Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Adley Substation

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34917

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920] (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

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

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of the Adley Substation, beside the Great Northern Railway tracks near Willingdon Avenue. Signs on the building read: "Western Canada Power Co. Ltd." and "Use Stave Lake Power."

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920] (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

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

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 158-002

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1986-08

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of the Adley Substation, beside the Great Northern Railway tracks near Willingdon Avenue. Signs on the building read: "Western Canada Power Co. Ltd." and "Use Stave Lake Power."

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Powerhouses

Names: Western Canada Power Company Limited

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Willingdon Avenue

Images

Adley Substation, [1920] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

Burnaby Substation

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36541

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [September 1907]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 7.5 x 13 cm

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the British Columbia Electric Railway Company's Burnaby Substation that was built in 1903 and put into operation to receive and distribute power from the B.C.E.R. Buntzen Lake power dam. The electric lines came across the inlet at Barnet, along the Barnet-Hastings Road to S…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [September 1907]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: John DeForest subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 7.5 x 13 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 293-002

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1992-30

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the British Columbia Electric Railway Company's Burnaby Substation that was built in 1903 and put into operation to receive and distribute power from the B.C.E.R. Buntzen Lake power dam. The electric lines came across the inlet at Barnet, along the Barnet-Hastings Road to Sperling Avenue (built for this project and called Pole Line Road) and then south to this site at the corner of Griffiths and the old Central Park interurban line (later this section was called the Highland Park line). This substation was constructed to convert the alternating current being delivered from the Buntzen power plant to direct current for the operation of the tram cars operating on the Central Park interurban route. The new brick substation replaced the wood fed steam powered 1891 Powerhouse that operated south of this site, across the tracks until its closure on May 31,1905. It was demolised in the late 1920s. This brick substation originally known as the Burnaby Substation, eventually became known as the Newell Substation. The original brick building was replaced by a new structure in 1930, which was demolished in the 1960s in favour of the open field substation that continues to operate on the same site today at 7260 Griffiths Avenue.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Powerhouses

Names: British Columbia Electric Railway Company

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Griffiths Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Burnaby Substation, [September 1907] thumbnail

Edison Road Power House

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36086

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1893 (date of original), copied November 26, 1975

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 14 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Edison Road Power House, of the Westminster and Vancouver Tramway Co. Ltd., the first electric interurban street railway in North America. This power house stood between Vancouver Road (Kingsway) and the line to Vancouver. (Edison Road is now Griffiths Avenue).

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1893 (date of original), copied November 26, 1975

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Columbian Newspaper subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 14 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 222-009

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1989-19

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Edison Road Power House, of the Westminster and Vancouver Tramway Co. Ltd., the first electric interurban street railway in North America. This power house stood between Vancouver Road (Kingsway) and the line to Vancouver. (Edison Road is now Griffiths Avenue).

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Powerhouses; Transportation - Electric Railroads

Names: Westminster and Vancouver Tramway Company

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Griffiths Avenue; Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Kingsway-Beresford Area

Images

Edison Road Power House, 1893 (date of original), copied November 26, 1975 thumbnail

Horne Payne Receiving Station

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34916

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920] (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

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

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of the Horne Payne substation, Boundary Road.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920] (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

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

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 158-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1986-08

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of the Horne Payne substation, Boundary Road.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Powerhouses

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Caption at lower right of photograph: "Horne-Payne Receiving Station"

Geographic Access: 2nd Avenue

Street Address: 3700 2nd Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: West Central Valley Area

Images

Horne Payne Receiving Station, [1920] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

Interior of Power House

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription73598

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [191-]

Collection/Fonds: LaFavor Family fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia postcard ; 8.5 x 14 cm

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the interior of the Power House at the North Pacific Lumber Company in Barnet Village, BC.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [191-]

Collection/Fonds: LaFavor Family fonds

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia postcard ; 8.5 x 14 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 540-006

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: 2007-03

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the interior of the Power House at the North Pacific Lumber Company in Barnet Village, BC.

Subjects: Documentary Artifacts - Postcards; Buildings - Industrial - Powerhouses; Industries - Logging/lumber; Industries - Forestry

Names: Barnet Mill

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Canadian Photo Company

Notes: Transcribed title

Geographic Access: Barnet Village; Texaco Drive

Street Address: 8059 Texaco Drive

Historic Neighbourhood: Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Images

Interior of Power House, [191-] thumbnail

Interior of the Burnaby Substation

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36542

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [September 1908]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 7.5 x 13 cm

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the interior of the British Columbia Electric Railway Company's Burnaby Substation that was built in 1903 and put into operation to receive and distribute power from the B.C.E.R. Buntzen Lake power dam. The electric lines came across the inlet at Barnet, along the Barnet-Ha…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [September 1908]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: John DeForest subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 7.5 x 13 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 293-003

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1992-30

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the interior of the British Columbia Electric Railway Company's Burnaby Substation that was built in 1903 and put into operation to receive and distribute power from the B.C.E.R. Buntzen Lake power dam. The electric lines came across the inlet at Barnet, along the Barnet-Hastings Road to Sperling Avenue (built for this project and called Pole Line Road) and then south to this site at the corner of Griffiths and the old Central Park interurban line (later this section was called the Highland Park line). This substation was constructed to convert the alternating current being delivered from the Buntzen power plant to direct current for the operation of the tram cars operating on the Central Park interurban route. The new brick substation replaced the wood fed steam powered 1891 Powerhouse that operated south of this site, across the tracks until its closure on May 31,1905. It was demolised in the late 1920s. This brick substation originally known as the Burnaby Substation, eventually became known as the Newell Substation. The original brick building was replaced by a new structure in 1930, which was demolished in the 1960s in favour of the open field substation that continues to operate on the same site today at 7260 Griffiths Avenue.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Powerhouses

Names: British Columbia Electric Railway Company

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Griffiths Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Interior of the Burnaby Substation

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36543

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [September 1908]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 7.5 x 13 cm

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the interior of the British Columbia Electric Railway Company's Burnaby Substation that was built in 1903 and put into operation to receive and distribute power from the B.C.E.R. Buntzen Lake power dam. The electric lines came across the inlet at Barnet, along the Barnet-Ha…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [September 1908]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: John DeForest subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 7.5 x 13 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 293-004

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1992-30

Scope and Content: Photographic postcard of the interior of the British Columbia Electric Railway Company's Burnaby Substation that was built in 1903 and put into operation to receive and distribute power from the B.C.E.R. Buntzen Lake power dam. The electric lines came across the inlet at Barnet, along the Barnet-Hastings Road to Sperling Avenue (built for this project and called Pole Line Road) and then south to this site at the corner of Griffiths and the old Central Park interurban line (later this section was called the Highland Park line). This substation was constructed to convert the alternating current being delivered from the Buntzen power plant to direct current for the operation of the tram cars operating on the Central Park interurban route. The new brick substation replaced the wood fed steam powered 1891 Powerhouse that operated south of this site, across the tracks until its closure on May 31,1905. It was demolised in the late 1920s. This brick substation originally known as the Burnaby Substation, eventually became known as the Newell Substation. The original brick building was replaced by a new structure in 1930, which was demolished in the 1960s in favour of the open field substation that continues to operate on the same site today at 7260 Griffiths Avenue.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Powerhouses

Names: British Columbia Electric Railway Company

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Griffiths Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Interior of the Burnaby Substation

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36544

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1907

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 12 x 17cm, mounted on board 22 x 27 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the interior of the British Columbia Electric Railway Company's Burnaby Substation that was built in 1903 and put into operation to receive and distribute power from the B.C.E.R. Buntzen Lake power dam. The electric lines came across the inlet at Barnet, along the Barnet-Hastings Road…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1907

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: John DeForest subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 12 x 17cm, mounted on board 22 x 27 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 293-005

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1992-30

Scope and Content: Photograph of the interior of the British Columbia Electric Railway Company's Burnaby Substation that was built in 1903 and put into operation to receive and distribute power from the B.C.E.R. Buntzen Lake power dam. The electric lines came across the inlet at Barnet, along the Barnet-Hastings Road to Sperling Avenue (built for this project and called Pole Line Road) and then south to this site at the corner of Griffiths and the old Central Park interurban line (later this section was called the Highland Park line). This substation was constructed to convert the alternating current being delivered from the Buntzen power plant to direct current for the operation of the tram cars operating on the Central Park interurban route. The new brick substation replaced the wood fed steam powered 1891 Powerhouse that operated south of this site, across the tracks until its closure on May 31,1905. It was demolised in the late 1920s. This brick substation originally known as the Burnaby Substation, eventually became known as the Newell Substation. The original brick building was replaced by a new structure in 1930, which was demolished in the 1960s in favour of the open field substation that continues to operate on the same site today at 7260 Griffiths Avenue.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Powerhouses

Names: British Columbia Electric Railway Company

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Photographer's handwritten note (on the negative causing it to show) on recto of photograph reads: "Burnaby Substation/ B.C.E.R.C/O"

Geographic Access: Griffiths Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Stride Avenue Area

Images

Interior of the Burnaby Substation, 1907 thumbnail

Interview with Ron Baker by Kathy Bossort November 27, 2015 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory635

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1963-1965

Length: 0:18:05

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Dr. Ron Baker’s stories about the beginnings of Simon Fraser University, how he became involved, and the attraction of being able to try different things with little interference. He talks about SFU Chancellor Gordon Shrum’s ideas for all year quarter system a…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Dr. Ron Baker’s stories about the beginnings of Simon Fraser University, how he became involved, and the attraction of being able to try different things with little interference. He talks about SFU Chancellor Gordon Shrum’s ideas for all year quarter system and for large lecture/small tutorials, and his counter proposal for a trimester system. He also describes his working relationship with Dr. Shrum.

Date Range: 1963-1965

Length: 0:18:05

Names: Simon Fraser University; Shrum, Gordon M.

Subjects: Education; Occupations - Teachers; Academic Disciplines; Planning

Geographic Access: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

Interviewer: Bossort, Kathy

Interview Date: November 27, 2015

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Dr. Ronald James Baker conducted by Kathy Bossort. Ron Baker was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about the founding of Simon Fraser University from the perspective of SFU’s first faculty member and Director of Academic Planning, Ron Baker. Ron Baker talks about John B. Macdonald’s report on higher education in BC (1962) and how it lead to the provincial government’s decision to establish a new university and to put it in the Burnaby area. He tells stories about how the site on Burnaby Mountain was chosen; about the building of the campus; and about the challenges of planning the academic structure of the university. He also talks about the attraction of creating with little interference an institution trying out new ideas and tells stories about his working relationship with Gordon Shrum. He considers the problems created by building universities in out of the way places and the ideas such as UniverCity for dealing with SFU’s isolation.

Biographical Notes: Ron Baker was born in London, England, in 1924, and served in the Royal Air Force during WW2. He emigrated to Canada in 1947 and studied at UBC where he obtained a BA degree (1951) and MA degree (1953) in English Language and Literature. He served on the faculty of the UBC English Department beginning as a lecturer in 1951 and advanced to positions of Assistant Professor (1958-63) and Associate Professor (1963-65). He was a contributor to John B. Macdonald’s 1962 report “Higher Education in British Columbia and a Plan for the Future”, and continued to make significant contributions to the establishment of the community college system in Canada throughout his career. In 1963 the newly established Simon Fraser University hired Ron as its first Director of Academic Planning, serving also as first head of SFU’s English Department. In 1969 Ron left SFU to become the first President of the University of Prince Edward Island, a position he held until 1978. In 1978 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to higher education. Ron has contributed to many organizations, including serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, on Canada Council, and as President of Association of Atlantic Universities and the Association of Canadian University Teachers of English. In 1990 Ron Baker was asked by the government of BC to prepare a preliminary report on the establishment of the future UNBC in Prince George. Now retired Ron Baker lives in the Edmonds area of Burnaby.

Total Tracks: 7

Total Length: 1:33:46

Interviewee Name: Baker, Ronald J. "Ron"

Interview Location: Ron Baker's home in Burnaby

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

Collection/Fonds: Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds

Series: Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series

Media Type: Sound Recording

Audio Tracks

Track one of interview with Dr. Ron Baker

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-013/MSS196-013_Track_1.mp3

Interview with Ron Baker by Kathy Bossort November 27, 2015 - Track 4

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory638

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1963-1970

Length: 0:11:00

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Dr. Ron Baker talking about Dr. Shrum’s attraction to the mountain top as site for university and his grand ideas for the university, including scholarships for an athletic program. He also talks about how original SFU faculty was more West Point Grey centered…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Dr. Ron Baker talking about Dr. Shrum’s attraction to the mountain top as site for university and his grand ideas for the university, including scholarships for an athletic program. He also talks about how original SFU faculty was more West Point Grey centered and preferred to commute from the North shore, and how this changed for new faculty who settled in Burnaby and Coquitlam.

Date Range: 1963-1970

Length: 0:11:00

Names: Simon Fraser University; Shrum, Gordon M.; University of British Columbia

Subjects: Academic Disciplines; Planning; Transportation

Geographic Access: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

Interviewer: Bossort, Kathy

Interview Date: November 27, 2015

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Dr. Ronald James Baker conducted by Kathy Bossort. Ron Baker was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about the founding of Simon Fraser University from the perspective of SFU’s first faculty member and Director of Academic Planning, Ron Baker. Ron Baker talks about John B. Macdonald’s report on higher education in BC (1962) and how it lead to the provincial government’s decision to establish a new university and to put it in the Burnaby area. He tells stories about how the site on Burnaby Mountain was chosen; about the building of the campus; and about the challenges of planning the academic structure of the university. He also talks about the attraction of creating with little interference an institution trying out new ideas and tells stories about his working relationship with Gordon Shrum. He considers the problems created by building universities in out of the way places and the ideas such as UniverCity for dealing with SFU’s isolation.

Biographical Notes: Ron Baker was born in London, England, in 1924, and served in the Royal Air Force during WW2. He emigrated to Canada in 1947 and studied at UBC where he obtained a BA degree (1951) and MA degree (1953) in English Language and Literature. He served on the faculty of the UBC English Department beginning as a lecturer in 1951 and advanced to positions of Assistant Professor (1958-63) and Associate Professor (1963-65). He was a contributor to John B. Macdonald’s 1962 report “Higher Education in British Columbia and a Plan for the Future”, and continued to make significant contributions to the establishment of the community college system in Canada throughout his career. In 1963 the newly established Simon Fraser University hired Ron as its first Director of Academic Planning, serving also as first head of SFU’s English Department. In 1969 Ron left SFU to become the first President of the University of Prince Edward Island, a position he held until 1978. In 1978 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to higher education. Ron has contributed to many organizations, including serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, on Canada Council, and as President of Association of Atlantic Universities and the Association of Canadian University Teachers of English. In 1990 Ron Baker was asked by the government of BC to prepare a preliminary report on the establishment of the future UNBC in Prince George. Now retired Ron Baker lives in the Edmonds area of Burnaby.

Total Tracks: 7

Total Length: 1:33:46

Interviewee Name: Baker, Ronald J. "Ron"

Interview Location: Ron Baker's home in Burnaby

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

Collection/Fonds: Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds

Series: Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series

Media Type: Sound Recording

Audio Tracks

Track four of interview with Dr. Ron Baker

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-013/MSS196-013_Track_4.mp3

Interview with Ron Baker by Kathy Bossort November 27, 2015 - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory639

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1963-1968

Length: 0:15:36

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Dr. Ron Baker’s description of the attraction SFU had for mature students; the reasons for making courses in languages, etc. non-compulsory; the pressure from the public in Burnaby and elsewhere to offer certain kinds of courses. He talks about the desire expr…

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview is about Dr. Ron Baker’s description of the attraction SFU had for mature students; the reasons for making courses in languages, etc. non-compulsory; the pressure from the public in Burnaby and elsewhere to offer certain kinds of courses. He talks about the desire expressed for theological courses and how he responded.

Date Range: 1963-1968

Length: 0:15:36

Names: Simon Fraser University

Subjects: Academic Disciplines; Planning

Geographic Access: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area

Interviewer: Bossort, Kathy

Interview Date: November 27, 2015

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Dr. Ronald James Baker conducted by Kathy Bossort. Ron Baker was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about the founding of Simon Fraser University from the perspective of SFU’s first faculty member and Director of Academic Planning, Ron Baker. Ron Baker talks about John B. Macdonald’s report on higher education in BC (1962) and how it lead to the provincial government’s decision to establish a new university and to put it in the Burnaby area. He tells stories about how the site on Burnaby Mountain was chosen; about the building of the campus; and about the challenges of planning the academic structure of the university. He also talks about the attraction of creating with little interference an institution trying out new ideas and tells stories about his working relationship with Gordon Shrum. He considers the problems created by building universities in out of the way places and the ideas such as UniverCity for dealing with SFU’s isolation.

Biographical Notes: Ron Baker was born in London, England, in 1924, and served in the Royal Air Force during WW2. He emigrated to Canada in 1947 and studied at UBC where he obtained a BA degree (1951) and MA degree (1953) in English Language and Literature. He served on the faculty of the UBC English Department beginning as a lecturer in 1951 and advanced to positions of Assistant Professor (1958-63) and Associate Professor (1963-65). He was a contributor to John B. Macdonald’s 1962 report “Higher Education in British Columbia and a Plan for the Future”, and continued to make significant contributions to the establishment of the community college system in Canada throughout his career. In 1963 the newly established Simon Fraser University hired Ron as its first Director of Academic Planning, serving also as first head of SFU’s English Department. In 1969 Ron left SFU to become the first President of the University of Prince Edward Island, a position he held until 1978. In 1978 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to higher education. Ron has contributed to many organizations, including serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, on Canada Council, and as President of Association of Atlantic Universities and the Association of Canadian University Teachers of English. In 1990 Ron Baker was asked by the government of BC to prepare a preliminary report on the establishment of the future UNBC in Prince George. Now retired Ron Baker lives in the Edmonds area of Burnaby.

Total Tracks: 7

Total Length: 1:33:46

Interviewee Name: Baker, Ronald J. "Ron"

Interview Location: Ron Baker's home in Burnaby

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

Collection/Fonds: Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds

Series: Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series

Media Type: Sound Recording

Audio Tracks

Track five of interview with Dr. Ron Baker

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-013/MSS196-013_Track_5.mp3

Oakalla Prison Farm

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34790

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [195-] (date of original), copied 1985

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 12.6 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of the rear of the powerhouse at Oakalla Prison Farm.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [195-] (date of original), copied 1985

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Roy Staples and Hector MacCubbin subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 12.6 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 134-006

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1985-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of the exterior of the rear of the powerhouse at Oakalla Prison Farm.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Powerhouses; Buildings - Public - Detention Facilities

Names: Oakalla Prison Farm

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Oakmount Crescent

Street Address: 5220 Oakmount Crescent

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Oakalla Area

Images

Oakalla Prison Farm, [195-] (date of original), copied 1985 thumbnail

Portable substation at the Fraser Valley branch

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36545

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1907

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 17 x 12cm, mounted on board 27 x 22 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the interior of the portable "railcar" substation at the British Columbia Electric Railway Company's Fraser Valley Branch.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1907

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: John DeForest subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 17 x 12cm, mounted on board 27 x 22 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 293-006

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1992-30

Scope and Content: Photograph of the interior of the portable "railcar" substation at the British Columbia Electric Railway Company's Fraser Valley Branch.

Subjects: Buildings - Industrial - Powerhouses

Names: British Columbia Electric Railway Company

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Photographer's handwritten note (on the negative causing it to show) on recto of photograph reads: "Burnaby Substation/ B.C.E.R.C/O"