Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19150

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1950-2022

Collection/Fonds: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 3 sound recordings (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) + 65 photographs + 26 photographs (jpg) + 1 portfolio (15 col. photographs + 12 col. laser prints) + 1 col. laser print + 6 business cards + 1 identification card + 1 booklet

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and his wife, Donna Polos; photographs of Jimmy Chow and his family soon after they immigrated to Canada in the 1950s as well as a sampling of photographs and records documenting Jimmy Chow's career in the film industry. Fonds is arranged…

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Physical Description: 3 sound recordings (wav) + 1 sound recording (mp3) + 65 photographs + 26 photographs (jpg) + 1 portfolio (15 col. photographs + 12 col. laser prints) + 1 col. laser print + 6 business cards + 1 identification card + 1 booklet

Scope and Content: Fonds consists of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and his wife, Donna Polos; photographs of Jimmy Chow and his family soon after they immigrated to Canada in the 1950s as well as a sampling of photographs and records documenting Jimmy Chow's career in the film industry. Fonds is arranged into series: 1) Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos interviews series 2) Jimmy Chow family photographs series 3) Property master photographs series 4) Property master records series

History: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow was born in Lin Pong Lee, Hoiping, China in 1948. In 1950, Jimmy Chow and his mother, Gim Gee Chow (1913-1991) fled China to escape the Communist Revolution and to be reunited with his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow (1906-1990) who’d immigrated to Canada many years earlier. Jimmy’s elder sister Shao-Lin Chow stayed behind in China. Jimmy’s father, Robin Chung Dip Chow immigrated to Canada in 1921 at 14 years of age and was forced to pay the Chinese head tax of $500. In 1950, Jimmy and his mother first fled to Hong Kong before immigrating to Canada and arriving in Vancouver. Jimmy Chow’s birth name is Hipman Chow but when he arrived in Canada, his father indicated that he needed an English name and he was given the name “Jimmy” but retained his birth name “Hipman Chow”. Over the years, Jimmy has also used the name “James H. Chow” and is often credited by this name in the film industry. For the first four years after immigrating, Jimmy and his parents lived in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec where his father had work in hotels and restaurants. While living in Asquith, Saskatchewan Jimmy attended school and began to learn English. In 1954, Jimmy and his parents returned to Vancouver, first living in the area of Strathcona before settling in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant where they purchased a house located on 15th Avenue east of Main Street. While living in Mount Pleasant, Jimmy attended both elementary and high school. While attending high school, Jimmy began working at the local grocery store where he worked for many years living at home and saving his money. In 1970 while attending Vancouver City College, Jimmy met his future wife Donna Polos. Two years later, they moved in together, married in 1981 and started a family. Jimmy and Donna first lived in North Burnaby before purchasing a house on Victory Street in Burnaby where they raised their three children. Growing up in a traditional Chinese Canadian family, Jimmy was always one who went against the grain. Although his father wanted him to get a business degree, Jimmy had aspirations for a different career path. Through the referral of a friend, he entered the film industry in 1973 working for CBC Vancouver. While working at the CBC, Jimmy gained valuable experience working on the set of the television series The Beachcombers, which launched his career in the film industry. Over a 45 year career, Jimmy worked on over 50 blockbuster movies, historical period films, science fiction films and fantasy films, where he honed in on his expertise as a set decorator, art director and property master. He built an international reputation through working with production companies, prop makers and antique sellers across the globe. As a property master in the film industry, Jimmy Chow has been responsible for designing, managing, and sourcing props for films such as: The BFG, Warcraft: The Beginning, X-Men 2, Fantastic Four, Watchman, Tron: Legacy, Little Women, Seven Years in Tibet, Shanghai Noon, The Shipping News, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Changeling, Man of Steel (Superman), Snow Falling on Cedars, Legends of the Fall, And the Sea Will Tell, Once a Thief and many more. With Jimmy's many years of professional experience in the film industry, he has been a union member of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians...) from July 1979, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science from 2018 and has worked as a guest lecturer in film production at Capilano University and Langara University. He was also a key contributor to the Burnaby Village Museum’s 2014 temporary exhibition Burnaby Makes Movies. Donna Polos was born in Vancouver in 1949 to parents Mayme "May" Helen Tillikana Polos (1931-1977) and Donald James Polos (1926-2017). Donna’s maternal grandparents, Elvi Tienhara and Toiva Tillikana immigrated to Canada from Helsinki, Finland. Donna’s paternal grandmother, Pauline Chimiki Polos emigrated from Ukraine to Argentina and then to Winnipeg. Donna’s paternal grandfather, James "Jimmy" Kostopolus emigrated as an orphan from Sparta Greece at the age of 12 years. In 1908, he first immigrated to the United States where he was denied entry so immigrated to Canada, entering through Halifax at Pier 17. When immigrating, James changed his last name to "Polos". Jimmy Polos arrived in Halifax with only five dollars in his pocket. He lived in Halifax for many years before making his way to Vancouver where he established three restaurants and raised his family. James was the proprietor of three restaurants in Burnaby including; the Home Apple Pie Café (1941-1944) located on East Hastings near Princess Avenue; Jimmy’s Café (1945-1955) located on East Hastings near Hawks Avenue and another restaurant located near 10th Avenue and Alma Street. Donna grew up with her family in Vancouver, first living in the downtown eastside before moving to a home near Joyce Station. Donna attended elementary school and high school while growing up in the neighbourhood of Joyce Station. Donna moved out of her family home at 21 years of age and lived with roommates before moving in with Jimmy Chow in 1972. Donna attended Vancouver City College and the University of British Columbia where she obtained her teaching degree in 1974. Donna first taught at Gilmore Elementary School before being hired to teach at Clinton Elementary School where she taught for nine years. While raising their three children, Donna worked part time teaching in schools in Burnaby. In 1991, after a near death experience, Donna became interested in fine art and took drawing and watercolour painting classes. This experience led her to experimenting with different painting techniques on paper and fabric. In 2008, Donna retired from teaching but continued her art career often working as an Artist in Residence at various schools and exhibiting her work. While living in Burnaby Donna has been politically active with a particular passion for heritage, housing and preserving the natural environment. Donna was instrumental in advocating and petitioning for the establishment of a tree bylaw in Burnaby which was eventually adopted by the City.

Creator: Chow, Hipman "Jimmy"; Polos, Donna

Accession Code: BV022.21; BV023.11

Date: 1950-2022

Media Type: Sound Recording; Photograph; Textual Record; Graphic Material

Notes: Title based on contents of fonds; Hipman "Jimmy" Chow's name in Cantonese is Chow Hipman and in Mandarin is Zhou Xiamin.

Chinese Canadian history in Burnaby resource guide

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7608

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Publication Date: [2022]

Call Number: 971.1 CHI

1 image 1 digital book

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Digital Reference Collection

Material Type: Digital Resource

Accession Code: BV022.8.1

Call Number: 971.1 CHI

Contributor: City of Burnaby

Place of Publication: Burnaby, BC

Publisher: City of Burnaby

Publication Date: [2022]

Physical Description: 36 p. ; ill. (some col.), maps, ports

Library Subject (LOC): Burnaby (B.C.)--History; Burnaby (B.C.)--Social Life and Customs; Chinese Canadians--British Columbia--Burnaby--History; Chinese--British Columbia--History; Pharmacy--Canada; Pharmacy--United States; Pharmaceutical museums; Directories

Object History: Chinese Canadians have contributed to Burnaby’s growth for over a century. The long and intertwining histories between Chinese Canadians, Indigenous people and other communities have shaped the founding of Burnaby and British Columbia. This resource guide was created because their life experiences and important contributions to Burnaby’s development are not widely known.

Images

Digital Books

Property master records series

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19153

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [1973-2022]

Collection/Fonds: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds

Description Level: Series

Physical Description: 1 portfolio : (15 photographs + 12 col. laser prints) + 1 col. laser print + 6 business cards + 1 identification card + 1 booklet

Scope and Content: Series consists of a small selection of prop concept design plans and prototypes for films that Jimmy Chow worked on as property master along with a collection of Jimmy Chow's identification cards and business cards while working in the film industry. Prop concept designs and prototypes include; …

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos fonds

Series: Property master records series

Description Level: Series

Physical Description: 1 portfolio : (15 photographs + 12 col. laser prints) + 1 col. laser print + 6 business cards + 1 identification card + 1 booklet

Scope and Content: Series consists of a small selection of prop concept design plans and prototypes for films that Jimmy Chow worked on as property master along with a collection of Jimmy Chow's identification cards and business cards while working in the film industry. Prop concept designs and prototypes include; "X2: X-Men United" and "The BFG".

Accession Code: BV022.21

Date: [1973-2022]

Media Type: Photograph; Textual Record; Graphic Material

Notes: Title based on contents of series

Museum exhibits series

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription16037

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1990-2021

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Description Level: Series

Physical Description: 1 digital illustration (pdf) + 1 painting (tiff) + 9 sound recordings (mp3) + 2 video recordings (mp4) + 6.5 cm of textual records

Scope and Content: Series consists of photographs, graphic materials and other records pertaining to Burnaby Village Museum temporary and permanent exhibits. A selection of temporary exihibits are described by title and year. Series have been arranged by exhibit title into the following subseries: 1) Burnaby's Best …

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum fonds

Series: Museum exhibits series

Description Level: Series

Physical Description: 1 digital illustration (pdf) + 1 painting (tiff) + 9 sound recordings (mp3) + 2 video recordings (mp4) + 6.5 cm of textual records

Scope and Content: Series consists of photographs, graphic materials and other records pertaining to Burnaby Village Museum temporary and permanent exhibits. A selection of temporary exihibits are described by title and year. Series have been arranged by exhibit title into the following subseries: 1) Burnaby's Best Baby contest subseries 2) Across the Pacific subseries 3) Agents of Change subseries 4) Museum materials for exhibits subseries

Names: Burnaby Village Museum

Accession Code: BV020.5; BV019.36.1; BV019.61.1; BV020.42; BV021.14

Date: 1990-2021

Media Type: Sound Recording; Moving Images; Graphic Material; Textual Record

Arrangement: Series are arranged by subseries by exhibit title and year.

Notes: Title based on contents of series; Further accruals expected

Paper heart by Sophie Armstrong

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription14749

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: March 2020

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 drawing : wax crayon on pink construction paper ; 20 x 23.5 cm

Scope and Content: Item consists of a heart that has been cut out of pink coloured construction paper. One side of the heart has contains a child's drawing with markings in purple crayon while the other side is blank. The side with the markings is faded from exposure due to sunlight after being hung in a window.

2 images

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 drawing : wax crayon on pink construction paper ; 20 x 23.5 cm

Scope and Content: Item consists of a heart that has been cut out of pink coloured construction paper. One side of the heart has contains a child's drawing with markings in purple crayon while the other side is blank. The side with the markings is faded from exposure due to sunlight after being hung in a window.

History: This was a heart the Armstrong family made in the last week of March when things were starting to get very scary and they wanted to share their message of love and support to the world. The heart was decorated on one side by Sophie (age 1), Kimberly's youngest daughter (of two). The heart remained on the window until mid July 2020.

Creator: Armstrong, Sophie

Subjects: Arts - Drawings; Crafts; Pandemics - COVID-19

Responsibility: Paneloc Marketing Limited

Accession Code: BV020.24.1

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: March 2020

Media Type: Graphic Material

Notes: Title based on contents of item

Images

Paper heart by Sophie Armstrong, March 2020 thumbnail

Inkwells to Internet: A History of Burnaby Schools

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumlibrary7551

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Author: Carter, David; Cooke, Rosemary; Pride, Harry, 1925-; White, Janet; Yip, Gail

Publication Date: 2020

Call Number: 371 CAR

1 image 1 digital book

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection: Reference Collection; Digital Reference Collection

Material Type: Book

ISBN: 978-0-9781979-2-6

Call Number: 371 CAR

Author: Carter, David; Cooke, Rosemary; Pride, Harry, 1925-; White, Janet; Yip, Gail

Place of Publication: Burnaby

Publisher: City of Burnaby

Publication Date: 2020

Physical Description: vii, 35 p. : ill. ; 29 cm.

Library Subject (LOC): Burnaby (B.C.)--History; Schools--British Columbia--Burnaby

Subjects: Education

Notes: "Includes index"; A history of the Burnaby school district and individual school buildings in Burnaby, BC, between 1893 and 2013.; The “First Nations cemetery” described on page 109 in Mary Johnson’s recollections was originally written as “Indian” and may refer to the Khalsa Diwan Society’s Sikh cremations at the Vancouver Cemetery.