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Chinese Canadians in Burnaby subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18781
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed 2019-2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) + 3 sound recordings (mp3)
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of two oral history interviews that were conducted by Denise Fong of Burnaby Village Museum while conducting historical research regarding the history of Chinese Canadians in Burnaby.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Chinese Canadians in Burnaby subseries
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) + 3 sound recordings (mp3)
- Material Details
- Digital master recordings (wav) were converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of two oral history interviews that were conducted by Denise Fong of Burnaby Village Museum while conducting historical research regarding the history of Chinese Canadians in Burnaby.
- Accession Code
- BV019.15.1
- BV020.6
- Date
- [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed 2019-2020
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of subseries
Edmonds School subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription41
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1916] (date of origial)-1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and other materials
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of photographs depicting Edmonds School, including its students, staff, and surrounding area, as well as a collection of records related to a research project in which students interviewed former Edmonds School students.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1916] (date of origial)-1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Edmonds School subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and other materials
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-07
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of photographs depicting Edmonds School, including its students, staff, and surrounding area, as well as a collection of records related to a research project in which students interviewed former Edmonds School students.
- History
- Edmonds School traces its history back to the opening of the first school in Burnaby in 1894. The "Burnaby school" was a typical one-room school house constructed on a small site on the opposite side of Canada Way (then named Douglas Road) and 18th Avenue. In 1896, when West Burnaby School, was built the school was renamed the "East Burnaby School." By 1908, the original small school house and its little playground became too small to contain the growing number of school-aged children living in the area. That year the Municipality of Burnaby and the Burnaby School Board funded a new four room school to house 75 students on the present site facing Edmonds Street. This building was known for many years as the old "gray school" because of its drab paint colour. In 1913, a four-room addition completed this school which was then renamed the "Edmonds Street School." In 1922, the school was was expanded with a new four-room "bungalow" building on the Douglas Road side of the property. By 1925, four more rooms were added to house the student population of this rapidly growing district, which peaked at 580 by 1930. After World War II, the old school was designated as a junior high school and in 1949, the present building was opened on an expanded site. By 1953 and 1955 the school received more additions to accommodate a student enrolment that had expanded to thirteen hundred students. The original gray building was demolished in 1956 and the bungalow building, which had served for many years as the elementary school, was destroyed by fire in 1989. The school was later rebuilt as Edmonds Community School.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Sound Recording
- Creator
- Edmonds Community School
- Notes
- Title based on contents of subseries
- PC207, MSS036
Gary Hong and Chan Kow Hong harvesting celery at Hop-On Farms
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4253
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1969] (date of original), copied 2017
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 600 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Gary Hong and Chan Kow Hong harvesting celery on the family farm, Hop-On Farms on Marine Drive. Trees and farm land evident in background; crate on right side of photograph.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 600 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Gary Hong and Chan Kow Hong harvesting celery on the family farm, Hop-On Farms on Marine Drive. Trees and farm land evident in background; crate on right side of photograph.
- History
- Josephine Hong was born to Sui Ha Hong and Chan Kow Hong. The Hong Family had seven children, oldest to youngest: Pauline, Josephine, Catherine, Norine, Gary, Darlene, and Marlene. The family runs Hop-On Farm on Marine Drive in Burnaby. Many Hong family members worked on the farm including Josephine Hong's grandfather, Gay Tim Hong, and uncles. Her great-grandfather was Sui Wing Hong
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Geographic Access
- Byrne Road
- Accession Code
- BV017.36.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1969] (date of original), copied 2017
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Related Material
- See Oral History Interview-BV020.6.1
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 12/3/2017
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph.
Images
Growing up in Burnaby subseries
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10391
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1930-1960 (interview content), interviewed May 2005
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- 36 sound recordings (mp3)
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of six oral history interviews that were conducted in May of 2005 by Burnaby Village Museum's Assistant Curator, Tom Gooden. Tom interviewed various members of the community as they reflected on their experiences about what it was like to grow up in Burnaby. This information beca…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Growing Up in Burnaby subseries
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- 36 sound recordings (mp3)
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consists of six oral history interviews that were conducted in May of 2005 by Burnaby Village Museum's Assistant Curator, Tom Gooden. Tom interviewed various members of the community as they reflected on their experiences about what it was like to grow up in Burnaby. This information became part of Burnaby Village Museum's Summer 2005- Stride Studios Exhibition entitled: "My Name: Growing Up in Burnaby". Persons interviewed included Burnaby Retired Teachers Association Heritage Committee members- Janet White and Ken and Gail Yip as well as Burnaby residents, Ella Beatty; Robert Lowe, Cice Brown and Maureen Sawshe.
- Accession Code
- BV017.45
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Date
- 1930-1960 (interview content), interviewed May 2005
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of subseries
- Most of the interviews have been divided into Tracks and described accordingly
- Interview with Maureen Sawshe is Closed due to access and reproduction restrictions
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.
Hong family harvesting radishes at Hop-On Farm
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4256
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [August 1963] (date of original), copied 2017
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 600 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Hong family members bent over plants, harvesting radishes at Hop-On Farm, August 1963. Woman holding baby in background with wooden crates.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : 600 dpi
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Hong family members bent over plants, harvesting radishes at Hop-On Farm, August 1963. Woman holding baby in background with wooden crates.
- History
- Josephine Hong was born to Sui Ha Hong and Chan Kow Hong. The Hong Family had seven children, oldest to youngest: Pauline, Josephine, Catherine, Norine, Gary, Darlene, and Marlene. The family runs Hop-On Farm on Marine Drive in Burnaby. Many Hong family members worked on the farm including Josephine Hong's grandfather, Gay Tim Hong, and uncles. Her great-grandfather was Sui Wing Hong
- Subjects
- Persons - Chinese Canadians
- Names
- Hop On Farms
- Geographic Access
- Byrne Road
- Accession Code
- BV017.36.7
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [August 1963] (date of original), copied 2017
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Related Material
- See Oral History Interview-BV020.6.1
- Scan Resolution
- 800
- Scan Date
- 12/3/2017
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph.
Images
Interviews with Bill and Albert Parker by Colin Stevens January 17, 1992
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription9840
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1920-1930 (interview content), interviewed January 17, 1992 (date of original), digitized 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 videocassette (53 min., 14 sec.) : col. , sd.
- Scope and Content
- Film footage documenting informal interviews with brothers William “Bill” and Albert Parker conducted by Burnaby Village Museum curator, Colin Stevens. The footage opens in the administration building of the Burnaby Village Museum where Bill Parker describes a pair of cross country skis that he is …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Jesse Love farmhouse series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 videocassette (53 min., 14 sec.) : col. , sd.
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Colin Stevens
- Interviewee:William (Bill) Parker; Albert Parker; Mrs. William Parker
- Location of Interview: Jesse Love farmhouse at the Burnaby Village Museum
- Camera: Susan Green and Colin Stevens
- Scope and Content
- Film footage documenting informal interviews with brothers William “Bill” and Albert Parker conducted by Burnaby Village Museum curator, Colin Stevens. The footage opens in the administration building of the Burnaby Village Museum where Bill Parker describes a pair of cross country skis that he is donating to the museum. Bill recollects how he constructed the skis out of cedar in the late 1920s when he was about 9 or 10 years old. Bill tells of how he skied in the neighbourhood of the Jesse Love farmhouse on Cumberland Road, using the skis until the mid to late 1930s. The film continues with a tour of the Jesse Love farmhouse which is under restoration on site of the Burnaby Village Museum. Curator Colin Stevens takes Albert and Bill Parker through various rooms inside of the house sharing details of what staff have discovered during the restoration process and gathers informative details by interviewing them. During the interviews, the brothers recollect what it was like living in the house in the 1920s. They provide details on the house’s construction, fixtures, heating and water systems along with particulars regarding furnishings and décor. Information that was gathered through interviews such as this, supported the restoration to be completed as accurately as possible.
- History
- Albert and William Charles “Bill” Parker are the sons of Sarah Parker (nee Love) and William Parker. Sarah Parker was the daughter of Jesse and Martha Love and grew up in the Love farmhouse located at 1390 Cumberland Road in Burnaby. Sarah and William Parker and their three children (Albert, Bill and Elsie) moved into the Love farmhouse in about 1925, eventually buying it in 1928 following the death of Sarah’s father Jesse Love. Sarah continued to live in the house until after her husband William died and eventually sold the house to her daughter Elsie Hughes and her husband John Hughes in 1966.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Sports - Skiing
- Buildings - Heritage
- Accession Code
- BV018.41.50
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1920-1930 (interview content), interviewed January 17, 1992 (date of original), digitized 2020
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Photographer
- Green, Susan
- Stevens, Colin
- Notes
- Title based on contents of video
- Video was digitized to mp4 in March 2020 from original VHS tape
Images
Video
Interviews with Bill and Albert Parker by Colin Stevens January 17, 1992, 1920-1930 (interview content), interviewed January 17, 1992 (date of original), digitized 2020
Interviews with Bill and Albert Parker by Colin Stevens January 17, 1992, 1920-1930 (interview content), interviewed January 17, 1992 (date of original), digitized 2020
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2018_0041_0050_001.mp4Interview with a former student
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription57963
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1916 (date of original) -1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers pertaining to an interview between a former student of Edmonds school Roland Cope and his wife Lil and two grade ten students, Tracy Van Eaton and Patty Barazza. Included in the file is a transcription of the interview, a photocopied photograph (with an identification key),…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1916 (date of original) -1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Edmonds School subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS036-005
- Access Restriction
- In Archives only
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-07
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers pertaining to an interview between a former student of Edmonds school Roland Cope and his wife Lil and two grade ten students, Tracy Van Eaton and Patty Barazza. Included in the file is a transcription of the interview, a photocopied photograph (with an identification key), and a photocopy of Roland R. Cope's High School Entrance Certificate from 1916.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Interview with a former student
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription57964
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1923] (date of original) -1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers pertaining to an interview between a former student of Edmonds school Raymond Bell and two grade ten students; Susan Thompson and Teresa Jacobs. Included in the file is a transcription of the interview, a photocopied photograph (with an identification key).
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1923] (date of original) -1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Edmonds School subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS036-006
- Access Restriction
- In Archives only
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- BHS1988-07
- Scope and Content
- File consists of papers pertaining to an interview between a former student of Edmonds school Raymond Bell and two grade ten students; Susan Thompson and Teresa Jacobs. Included in the file is a transcription of the interview, a photocopied photograph (with an identification key).
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Interview with Aili Topalian by Eric Damer October 11, 2012 - Track 4
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory422
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1937-1979
- Length
- 0:10:15
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Aili (Rintanen) Topalian's memories of her early life in Burnaby. Aili discusses family friends, Maplewood flats in North Vancovuer, the waterfront at Burrard Inlet, owning Bantam Roosters and an Alsatian dog. She mentions some of the more challenging aspec…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the recording pertains to Aili (Rintanen) Topalian's memories of her early life in Burnaby. Aili discusses family friends, Maplewood flats in North Vancovuer, the waterfront at Burrard Inlet, owning Bantam Roosters and an Alsatian dog. She mentions some of the more challenging aspects of Crabtown.
- Date Range
- 1937-1979
- Photo Info
- Aili Rintanen (later Topalian) holding cat, next to her sister who has a rooster in her arms, [1937]. Item no. 337-003.
- Length
- 0:10:15
- Geographic Access
- Burrard Inlet
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Interviewer
- Damer, Eric
- Interview Date
- October 11, 2012
- Scope and Content
- Recording is an interview with Aili (Rintanen) Topalian conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, October 11, 2012. Major theme discussed: growing up in Crabtown.
- Biographical Notes
- Aili Rintanen (later Topalian) came to British Columbia in 1936 from a homestead near Burnt Lake, Alberta. After a few months in Vancouver and then a Burnaby apartment, the Rintanens moved to a house on the Burrard Inlet. The family lived over the water, in a house built on a deck, secured to the top of pilings that were sunk deep into the sand. Aili's mother Aune Rintanen found work at a fish and chip shop in downtown Vancouver and her father Gus Rintanen worked in a nearby mill. Aili and her sister Trudi (later Tuomi), attended school in Burnaby. For nine years the Rintanens created a home for themselves in an area now called Crabtown, although no one living there called it that.
- Total Tracks
- 4
- Total Length
- 0:39:00
- Interviewee Name
- Topalian, Aili Rintanen
- Interview Location
- Interviewee's residence
- Interviewer Bio
- Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
- Collection/Fonds
- Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds
- Transcript Available
- None
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Images
Audio Tracks
Track four of recording of interview with Aili Topalian
Track four of recording of interview with Aili Topalian
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-028/MSS171-028_Track_4.mp3Interview with Alekxos Sarter by Kathy Bossort October 16, 2015 - Track 2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory578
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1958-1992
- Length
- 0:12:40
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Alekxos Sarter’s first years of employment with Parks, her sources of knowledge about Burnaby Mountain, and the department’s activities in Burnaby Mountain Park. She talks about the loop trail planned for Burnaby Mountain Park in 1958, the Trans Canada Trail p…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Alekxos Sarter’s first years of employment with Parks, her sources of knowledge about Burnaby Mountain, and the department’s activities in Burnaby Mountain Park. She talks about the loop trail planned for Burnaby Mountain Park in 1958, the Trans Canada Trail project, events and issues at the Pavilion, and keeping track of trails on SFU lands.
- Date Range
- 1958-1992
- Length
- 0:12:40
- Names
- Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
- Burnaby Mountain Park
- Kamui Mintara
- Trans Canada Trail
- Geographic Access
- Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
- Interviewer
- Bossort, Kathy
- Interview Date
- October 16, 2015
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Alekxos Sarter conducted by Kathy Bossort. Alekxos Sarter 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 history of setting aside parkland on Burnaby Mountain from Alekxos Sarter’s perspective and experience as employee in the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services. The interview provides an excellent explanation of the history and function of kinds of park dedications used by the City of Burnaby; an overview of issues around including the Trans Mountain tank farm in the conservation area; and the background to the land use and ownership disagreement between the City of Burnaby and Simon Fraser University, its resolution, and the subsequent development of SFU’s UniverCity. Alekxos Sarter talks about Richard Bolton, Burnaby’s Acting-Commissioner who was responsible for dedicating the first park on Burnaby Mountain in 1942, and the creation of a park named after him in UniverCity.
- Biographical Notes
- Alekxos Sarter was born in Vancouver in 1961, to Daine and Kasandra Sarter. She grew up in North Vancouver and since 1994 has lived on a sailboat in False Creek. After attending UBC where she studied landscape architecture, she was hired by the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services in 1986. Working first in parks design, Alekxos quickly moved into parks planning, her preferred career. As Research Officer she covers research, planning, public consultation, parks and facility inventory, parkland acquisition, among other duties.
- Total Tracks
- 9
- Total Length
- 2:20:47
- Interviewee Name
- Sarter, Alekxos T.
- Interview Location
- City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services meeting room
- 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
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Track two of interview with Alekxos Sarter
Track two of interview with Alekxos Sarter
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-005/MSS196-005_Track_2.mp3Interview with Alekxos Sarter by Kathy Bossort October 16, 2015 - Track 3
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory579
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1910-1960
- Length
- 0:21:54
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Alekxos Sarter’s historical overview of early public recreation, and intentions to set aside parkland, on Burnaby Mountain; Acting-Commissioner Richard Bolton’s signing of By Law 1772 that created Barnet Mountain Park in 1942; and her explanation about the fun…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Alekxos Sarter’s historical overview of early public recreation, and intentions to set aside parkland, on Burnaby Mountain; Acting-Commissioner Richard Bolton’s signing of By Law 1772 that created Barnet Mountain Park in 1942; and her explanation about the function and kinds of park dedications used in Burnaby.
- Date Range
- 1910-1960
- Length
- 0:21:54
- Geographic Access
- Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
- Interviewer
- Bossort, Kathy
- Interview Date
- October 16, 2015
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Alekxos Sarter conducted by Kathy Bossort. Alekxos Sarter 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 history of setting aside parkland on Burnaby Mountain from Alekxos Sarter’s perspective and experience as employee in the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services. The interview provides an excellent explanation of the history and function of kinds of park dedications used by the City of Burnaby; an overview of issues around including the Trans Mountain tank farm in the conservation area; and the background to the land use and ownership disagreement between the City of Burnaby and Simon Fraser University, its resolution, and the subsequent development of SFU’s UniverCity. Alekxos Sarter talks about Richard Bolton, Burnaby’s Acting-Commissioner who was responsible for dedicating the first park on Burnaby Mountain in 1942, and the creation of a park named after him in UniverCity.
- Biographical Notes
- Alekxos Sarter was born in Vancouver in 1961, to Daine and Kasandra Sarter. She grew up in North Vancouver and since 1994 has lived on a sailboat in False Creek. After attending UBC where she studied landscape architecture, she was hired by the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services in 1986. Working first in parks design, Alekxos quickly moved into parks planning, her preferred career. As Research Officer she covers research, planning, public consultation, parks and facility inventory, parkland acquisition, among other duties.
- Total Tracks
- 9
- Total Length
- 2:20:47
- Interviewee Name
- Sarter, Alekxos T.
- Interview Location
- City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services meeting room
- 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
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Track three of interview with Alekxos Sarter
Track three of interview with Alekxos Sarter
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-005/MSS196-005_Track_3.mp3Interview with Alekxos Sarter by Kathy Bossort October 16, 2015 - Track 4
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory580
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1942-2015
- Length
- 0:13:21
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Alekxos Sarter’s overview of the history of the Trans Mountain tank farm site on Burnaby Mountain, the delineation of the first conservation area on the mountain in 1974, and the reasons for inclusion of the tank farm in the conservation area. She also talks a…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Alekxos Sarter’s overview of the history of the Trans Mountain tank farm site on Burnaby Mountain, the delineation of the first conservation area on the mountain in 1974, and the reasons for inclusion of the tank farm in the conservation area. She also talks about Suncor’s site and its inclusion in the conservation area.
- Date Range
- 1942-2015
- Length
- 0:13:21
- Geographic Access
- Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
- Interviewer
- Bossort, Kathy
- Interview Date
- October 16, 2015
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Alekxos Sarter conducted by Kathy Bossort. Alekxos Sarter 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 history of setting aside parkland on Burnaby Mountain from Alekxos Sarter’s perspective and experience as employee in the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services. The interview provides an excellent explanation of the history and function of kinds of park dedications used by the City of Burnaby; an overview of issues around including the Trans Mountain tank farm in the conservation area; and the background to the land use and ownership disagreement between the City of Burnaby and Simon Fraser University, its resolution, and the subsequent development of SFU’s UniverCity. Alekxos Sarter talks about Richard Bolton, Burnaby’s Acting-Commissioner who was responsible for dedicating the first park on Burnaby Mountain in 1942, and the creation of a park named after him in UniverCity.
- Biographical Notes
- Alekxos Sarter was born in Vancouver in 1961, to Daine and Kasandra Sarter. She grew up in North Vancouver and since 1994 has lived on a sailboat in False Creek. After attending UBC where she studied landscape architecture, she was hired by the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services in 1986. Working first in parks design, Alekxos quickly moved into parks planning, her preferred career. As Research Officer she covers research, planning, public consultation, parks and facility inventory, parkland acquisition, among other duties.
- Total Tracks
- 9
- Total Length
- 2:20:47
- Interviewee Name
- Sarter, Alekxos T.
- Interview Location
- City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services meeting room
- 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
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Track four of interview with Alekxos Sarter
Track four of interview with Alekxos Sarter
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-005/MSS196-005_Track_4.mp3Interview with Alekxos Sarter by Kathy Bossort October 16, 2015 - Track 6
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory582
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1950-2015
- Length
- 0:22:57
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Alekxos Sarter’s views on the pressures on the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area from the SFU community and utility corridors; managing the edges of the conservation area on Barnet Highway; the history of the Burnaby Mountain Parkway; and a further explanatio…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Alekxos Sarter’s views on the pressures on the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area from the SFU community and utility corridors; managing the edges of the conservation area on Barnet Highway; the history of the Burnaby Mountain Parkway; and a further explanation about kinds of park dedications, the origin of the covenant , and the protection status each provides. Also explained are the terms of the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Burnaby and SFU.
- Date Range
- 1950-2015
- Length
- 0:22:57
- Subjects
- Geographic Features - Parks
- Planning
- Geographic Access
- Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
- Burnaby Mountain Parkway
- Interviewer
- Bossort, Kathy
- Interview Date
- October 16, 2015
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Alekxos Sarter conducted by Kathy Bossort. Alekxos Sarter 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 history of setting aside parkland on Burnaby Mountain from Alekxos Sarter’s perspective and experience as employee in the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services. The interview provides an excellent explanation of the history and function of kinds of park dedications used by the City of Burnaby; an overview of issues around including the Trans Mountain tank farm in the conservation area; and the background to the land use and ownership disagreement between the City of Burnaby and Simon Fraser University, its resolution, and the subsequent development of SFU’s UniverCity. Alekxos Sarter talks about Richard Bolton, Burnaby’s Acting-Commissioner who was responsible for dedicating the first park on Burnaby Mountain in 1942, and the creation of a park named after him in UniverCity.
- Biographical Notes
- Alekxos Sarter was born in Vancouver in 1961, to Daine and Kasandra Sarter. She grew up in North Vancouver and since 1994 has lived on a sailboat in False Creek. After attending UBC where she studied landscape architecture, she was hired by the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services in 1986. Working first in parks design, Alekxos quickly moved into parks planning, her preferred career. As Research Officer she covers research, planning, public consultation, parks and facility inventory, parkland acquisition, among other duties.
- Total Tracks
- 9
- Total Length
- 2:20:47
- Interviewee Name
- Sarter, Alekxos T.
- Interview Location
- City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services meeting room
- 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
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Track six of interview with Alekxos Sarter
Track six of interview with Alekxos Sarter
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-005/MSS196-005_Track_6.mp3Interview with Alekxos Sarter by Kathy Bossort October 16, 2015 - Track 7
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory583
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1963-2015
- Length
- 0:13:39
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Alekxos Sarter’s views on the origin and subsequent development and resolution of the dispute between SFU and the City of Burnaby over land ownership and land use on Burnaby Mountain.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Alekxos Sarter’s views on the origin and subsequent development and resolution of the dispute between SFU and the City of Burnaby over land ownership and land use on Burnaby Mountain.
- Date Range
- 1963-2015
- Length
- 0:13:39
- Subjects
- Geographic Features - Parks
- Government
- Land
- Geographic Access
- Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
- Interviewer
- Bossort, Kathy
- Interview Date
- October 16, 2015
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Alekxos Sarter conducted by Kathy Bossort. Alekxos Sarter 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 history of setting aside parkland on Burnaby Mountain from Alekxos Sarter’s perspective and experience as employee in the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services. The interview provides an excellent explanation of the history and function of kinds of park dedications used by the City of Burnaby; an overview of issues around including the Trans Mountain tank farm in the conservation area; and the background to the land use and ownership disagreement between the City of Burnaby and Simon Fraser University, its resolution, and the subsequent development of SFU’s UniverCity. Alekxos Sarter talks about Richard Bolton, Burnaby’s Acting-Commissioner who was responsible for dedicating the first park on Burnaby Mountain in 1942, and the creation of a park named after him in UniverCity.
- Biographical Notes
- Alekxos Sarter was born in Vancouver in 1961, to Daine and Kasandra Sarter. She grew up in North Vancouver and since 1994 has lived on a sailboat in False Creek. After attending UBC where she studied landscape architecture, she was hired by the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services in 1986. Working first in parks design, Alekxos quickly moved into parks planning, her preferred career. As Research Officer she covers research, planning, public consultation, parks and facility inventory, parkland acquisition, among other duties.
- Total Tracks
- 9
- Total Length
- 2:20:47
- Interviewee Name
- Sarter, Alekxos T.
- Interview Location
- City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services meeting room
- 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
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
Audio Tracks
Track seven of interview with Alekxos Sarter
Track seven of interview with Alekxos Sarter
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS196-005/MSS196-005_Track_7.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory464
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1911-1990
- Length
- 00:05:22
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Dep…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about how Al Nixon began collecting and saving photographs, records and stories about the history of the Burnaby Fire Department in the mid 1980's. Finding the first scrapbook of photographs lead to other discoveries that placed the beginning of the Burnaby Fire Department in 1911.
- Date Range
- 1911-1990
- Length
- 00:05:22
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track one of interview with Al Nixon
Track one of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_1.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory465
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:08
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the location of the North Burnaby Fire Department fire hall and the location of the six fire halls subsequently built for the combined north and south department. He also talks about Fred Blake, Lewis Auvache and Henry Chapman, early member…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the location of the North Burnaby Fire Department fire hall and the location of the six fire halls subsequently built for the combined north and south department. He also talks about Fred Blake, Lewis Auvache and Henry Chapman, early members of the department who were also interested in the department's history.
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:08
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track two of interview with Al Nixon
Track two of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_2.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 3
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory466
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1927-1990
- Length
- 00:04:05
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.
- Date Range
- 1927-1990
- Length
- 00:04:05
- Names
- Waddell, Gordon
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track three of interview with Al Nixon
Track three of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_3.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 4
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory467
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1945-1990
- Length
- 00:06:11
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the inhalator equipment used by the department starting in 1945. Al Nixon describes 50% of the calls received by the department as "pre-hospital care", and that the department is an emergency service rather than just a fire department. He also describes the 19…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about the inhalator equipment used by the department starting in 1945. Al Nixon describes 50% of the calls received by the department as "pre-hospital care", and that the department is an emergency service rather than just a fire department. He also describes the 1990 department staffing and equipment level.
- Date Range
- 1945-1990
- Length
- 00:06:11
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track four of interview with Al Nixon
Track four of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_4.mp3Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 7
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory470
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:34
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the importance of good record keeping, using an example of an 1936 fire record used in a civic law suit. He expressed concerned about the lack of museum and archives facilities in Burnaby.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Summary
- This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the importance of good record keeping, using an example of an 1936 fire record used in a civic law suit. He expressed concerned about the lack of museum and archives facilities in Burnaby.
- Date Range
- 1936-1990
- Length
- 00:04:34
- Interviewer
- Fowler, Rod
- Interview Date
- February 21, 1990
- Scope and Content
- Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
- Biographical Notes
- Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
- Total Tracks
- 8
- Total Length
- 0:43:35
- Interviewee Name
- Nixon, Al
- Interviewer Bio
- Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
- Collection/Fonds
- SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee fonds
- Transcript Available
- Transcript available
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Web Notes
- Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Audio Tracks
Track seven of interview with Al Nixon
Track seven of interview with Al Nixon
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS187-014/MSS187-014_Track_7.mp3