302 records – page 1 of 16.

Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19611
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (90 min., 21 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (90 min., 4 sec.)
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Shushma Datt and her son, Sudhir Datta conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik. 00:00 – 12:47 Interview opens with introductions. Shushma Datt shares information about; where she’s lived in Burnaby sin…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
South Asian Canadian Interviews subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 sound recordings (wav) (90 min., 21 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (90 min., 4 sec.)
Material Details
Interviewers: Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik Interviewees: Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta Location of Interview: Spice Radio, Norland Avenue, Burnaby Interview Date: January 20, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:30:21 Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Shushma Datt and her son, Sudhir Datta conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik. 00:00 – 12:47 Interview opens with introductions. Shushma Datt shares information about; where she’s lived in Burnaby since immigrating in 1972 and her arranged marriage which lead her to immigrate to Canada. Datt provides detailed information about her family background in Kenya and her parent’s decision to move their family from Kenya to India in the 1960s and then to England in the 1965. Datt describes her family’s experiences living in Kenya and India in the 1960s and provides some context on the political unrest that happened in Kenya which lead her family to leave. 12:48 - 28:07 Datt talks about her time living in England and shares information on her family life and her employment experiences. Datt conveys an experience from her childhood that inspired her to become a broadcaster and shares her experiences working for the BBC oversees service in England (1965-1972). Datt describes some of the articles that she's written for various publications and the people that she's interviewed. Datt highlights a particular experience about writing a critical review about the controversial design on Jimi Hendrix’s album “Axis: Bold as Love” that depicted Hindu religious iconography. 28:09 – 34:47 Datt and Datta provide further details about Datt's arranged marriage which lead her to immigrate to Canada in 1972 and to work as a broadcaster in Canada. Datt recalls her experiences working as a radio station operator for CHQM, a radio broadcaster for CJVB and starting her own South Asian radio station Rim Jhim in 1987. 34:48 – 40:01 Datt and Datta share information on where they’ve lived in Vancouver and Burnaby. Datt and Datta recall pivotal family life events that impacted their lives in 1974. 40:02 – 45:53 Datt recalls the travel trunks and contents that she and her family brought with them when they left Nairobi. Datt describes the letters that her parents wrote. Datt and Datta describe photos of their family and convey the impacts to their family after two of Datt’s brothers died at 24 years of age. 45:54 – 50:56 Interview continues chronologically from 1974, after Datt’s son, Sudhir Datta was born. Datt describes how she had to work hard to help pay her bills and support her family. Datta describes his childhood growing up as a South Asian child living and attending school in Burnaby (1979-1992). Datt and Datta recall Datt’s graduation ceremony and Datta’s Order of British Columbia awards ceremony. 50:57 – 58:03 Datt and Datta talk about food and cooking and where they’ve shopped for traditional food supplies. Datta explains her family lineage as Hindus who eat meat and how she’s been a vegetarian for over 30 years. Datt and Datta share stories about Datt’s mother Leela Datta. 58:04 – 1:05:38 Both Datt and Datta reflect on what’s it’s been like living as South Asians in Burnaby. Datt conveys the message that she got from her mom, Leela Datta "not to assimilate but to integrate". They both reflect on how the ethnic and cultural diversity of neighbourhoods has changed over time and Datt describes his experiences as a student in Burnaby. 1:05:39 – 1:16:51 Datt and Datta talk about the role of religion in their lives, describe the purpose of Radio Rim Jhim and reflect on how the South Asian community has grown in Metro Vancouver and the disparities created within. They both recall how their lives were threatened and impacted in 1984 following an interview that Datt did with Indira Ghandhi. Datt talks about the origins of her and her son’s surnames. 1:16:52 – 1:26:11 Datt and Datta talk about and reflect on their own experiences of racism and discrimination. Datt talks about Spice Radio’s annual campaign “Raise your hands against Racism”. Datt and Datta provide background on the radio stations Rim Jhim and Spice Radio including; how they got started, their unbiased approach to broadcast content and their experiences in the complex realm of broadcasting a multi-cultural radio station. 1:26:12 – 1:30:04 In closing, Datt and Datta convey what they think that younger generations of South Asian Canadians should understand about the South Asian Community in British Columbia.
History
Interviewees biographies: Shushma Datt was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1946 and is the second eldest of six children. In the 1960s during the unrest in Kenya, her family moved to India. After about nine months of living in India, Datt's family decided to return to Kenya, leaving Datt and her brother to complete their education in India. While living in India, Datt studied at Delhi University and worked at the Indian newspaper. In 1965, Datt, her parents and five siblings decided to leave Kenya and immigrated to England. While living in England, Datt got work as a broadcaster with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) overseas service, producing her first program in 1969. During her time with the BBC, Datt has interviewed many influential artists including Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles as well as the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. In 1972, Datt immigrated to Canada and settled in Burnaby. In late 1973, Datt sponsored her mother who joined her in Burnaby. Datt joined the CJVB radio station in Vancouver working as the Punjabi and Hindi language broadcaster. Datt worked here until 1978 when she started her own radio station, Radio Rim Jhim. In 2005, Datt obtained her own AM radio band license for a multicultural radio station RJ1200 which was later rebranded "Spice Radio". In 2015, Datt launched Spice Radio's annual "Hands Against Racism" campaign which has won awards from the Government of British Columbia and the B.C. Association of Broadcasters. Datt has also been a producer for Omni TV and Shaw TV and was the first woman to obtain a broadcasting license from the Canadian Radio- Television Telecommunications Commission. In 1992, Shushma Datt was awarded the Order of British Columbia and is also the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. Datt has been listed by the Vancouver Sun newspaper as among the 100 "most influential Indo-Canadians" and has been recognized by the Royal British Columbia Museum as one of the 150 "most influential British Columbians". Sudhir Datta is the only child of Sushma Datt and was born in Burnaby. Datta graduated with a computer science degree from Capilano University in 1995. Datta is the Vice President of Media Broadcasting (founded in 1984) creating television and radio programming for Canada's South Asian Community and has been the General Manager and Program Director of Spice Radio since 2006. Datta is also the author of many articles highlighting the South Asian community in Vancouver. Interviewers biographies: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”. Jane Lemke has worked in various museums in the Lower Mainland and has been the Curator at Burnaby Village Museum since 2019. Her educational background includes a Master of Arts degree in History and a Master of Museum Studies degree. Her research focus has been on trauma and memory and its role in shaping Canadian identity. She loves sharing memories and stories of Burnaby with the public. Jane sits on the Council of the BC Museums Association and is the Chair of the BC Museums Association Professional Development and Education Committee.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Migration
Occupations - Broadcasters
Occupations - Entrepreneurs
Occupations - Journalists
Persons - South Asian Canadians
Radio Stations
Religions
Religions - Hinduism
Religions - Sikhism
Social Issues
Social Issues - Racism
Names
Datt, Shushma
Datta, Sudhir
Datta, Lila Vati "Leela"
Spice Radio
Rim Jhim
Responsibility
Malik, Anushay
Lemke, Jane
Accession Code
BV023.1.3
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Transcript available upon request
Audio Tracks

Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta, [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023

Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta, [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0001_0003_003.mp3
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Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18947
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 13, 2005
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:07:37 min)
Scope and Content
Track 1: This portion of the recording pertains to Cice Brown talking about growing up in West Burnaby near Central Park, between West Burnaby and McKay tram station. Cice describes the area in which she lived; talks about attending school at Kingsway West and highschool at Burnaby South. Interview…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:07:37 min)
Material Details
Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Cice Brown Date of interview: May 13, 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 7 Total length of all Tracks: 0:40:19
Scope and Content
Track 1: This portion of the recording pertains to Cice Brown talking about growing up in West Burnaby near Central Park, between West Burnaby and McKay tram station. Cice describes the area in which she lived; talks about attending school at Kingsway West and highschool at Burnaby South. Interviewer asks about the types of activities she was involved while growing up. Cice recalls being a member of the school choir at Kingsway West, the music teacher and winning a competition. Cice talks about attending Burnaby South highschool at the start of World War II, her involvement with cadets as well as the "Hi-Y" club and playing outside in the Central Park neighbourhood.
History
Recording of an interview with Cice Brown, interviewed by Tom Gooden on May 13 2005. This recording was completed for an exhibit, Growing Up in Burnaby, for the Burnaby Village Museum. Major themes discussed are growing up in Burnaby in the 1930s and 40s.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Organizations - Adolescents' Societies and Clubs
Wars - World War, 1939-1945
Organizations - Choirs
Names
Brown, Cice Chandler
Kingsway West School
Burnaby South High School
Central Park
Geographic Access
Kingsway
Accession Code
BV017.45.3
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 13, 2005
Media Type
Sound Recording
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Audio Tracks

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 1, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 13, 2005

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 1, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 13, 2005

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0003_001.mp3
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Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4477
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:06:11 min)
Scope and Content
Track 2: This portion of the recording pertains to responsibilities, chores, and money. Cice recalls her chores, and how she spent her allowance. She describes her jobs in Mr. Pitman’s drygoods stores, on Kingsway and on Jubilee Ave., and in Anne Reid’s candy shop. Asked about church, Cice discuss…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Growing Up in Burnaby subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:06:11 min)
Material Details
Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Cice Brown Date of interview: May 13, 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 7 Total length of all Tracks: 0:40:19
Scope and Content
Track 2: This portion of the recording pertains to responsibilities, chores, and money. Cice recalls her chores, and how she spent her allowance. She describes her jobs in Mr. Pitman’s drygoods stores, on Kingsway and on Jubilee Ave., and in Anne Reid’s candy shop. Asked about church, Cice discusses her involvement with the Henderson-Jubilee United church, and C.G.I.T..
History
Recording of an interview with Cice Brown, interviewed by Tom Gooden on May 13 2005. This recording was completed for an exhibit, Growing Up in Burnaby, for the Burnaby Village Museum. Major themes discussed are growing up in Burnaby in the 1930s and 40s.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Buildings - Commercial - General Stores
Buildings - Commercial - Grocery Stores
Buildings - Commercial - Stores
Names
Brown, Cice Chandler
Geographic Access
Kingsway
Jubilee Avenue
Accession Code
BV017.45.3
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Media Type
Sound Recording
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Audio Tracks

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 2, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 2, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0003_002.mp3
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Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4478
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:03:53 min)
Scope and Content
Track 3: This portion of the recording pertains to friends and community. Cice talks of her mother’s wisdom and understanding, and of the happiness and freedom she experienced while she was growing up. She describes the neighborhood children playing together in the local ravines. Cice also recalls …
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Growing Up in Burnaby subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:03:53 min)
Material Details
Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Cice Brown Date of interview: May 13, 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 7 Total length of all Tracks: 0:40:19
Scope and Content
Track 3: This portion of the recording pertains to friends and community. Cice talks of her mother’s wisdom and understanding, and of the happiness and freedom she experienced while she was growing up. She describes the neighborhood children playing together in the local ravines. Cice also recalls how getting a bicycle led eventually to the further freedom of cycling to White Rock, the airport, Deep Cove, and Horseshoe Bay.
History
Recording of an interview with Cice Brown, interviewed by Tom Gooden on May 13, 2005. This recording was completed for an exhibit, Growing Up in Burnaby, for the Burnaby Village Museum. Major themes discussed are growing up in Burnaby in the 1930s and 40s.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Sports - Cycling
Names
Brown, Cice Chandler
Accession Code
BV017.45.3
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Media Type
Sound Recording
Audio Tracks

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 3, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 3, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0003_003.mp3
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Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 4

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4479
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:06:35 min)
Scope and Content
Track 4: This portion of the recording pertains to friends, play, and recreation. Cice talks about Shirley, her best friend from grade school until Shirley’s death at 21. She describes the large, loose circle of friends she met in the Telford Avenue neighborhood or through school, and where they pl…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Growing Up in Burnaby subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:06:35 min)
Material Details
Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Cice Brown Date of Interview: May 13, 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 7 Total length of all Tracks: 0:40:19
Scope and Content
Track 4: This portion of the recording pertains to friends, play, and recreation. Cice talks about Shirley, her best friend from grade school until Shirley’s death at 21. She describes the large, loose circle of friends she met in the Telford Avenue neighborhood or through school, and where they played. Cice recalls how she spent time with her high school friends, and discusses the games that she played with her family and friends.
History
Recording of an interview with Cice Brown, interviewed by Tom Gooden on May 13 2005. This recording was completed for an exhibit, Growing Up in Burnaby, for the Burnaby Village Museum. Major themes discussed are growing up in Burnaby in the 1930s and 40s.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Recreational Activities
Persons - Children
Names
Brown, Cice Chandler
Geographic Access
Telford Avenue
Accession Code
BV017.45.3
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Media Type
Sound Recording
Planning Study Area
Maywood Area
Audio Tracks

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 4, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 4, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0003_004.mp3
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Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4480
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:07:55 min)
Scope and Content
Track 5: This portion of the recording continues with the topic of recreation. The next questions pertain to restrictions on children at the time, cultural diversity, living arrangements, and toys. Cice is asked to describe her best and worst memories. She mentions that there were few restrictions …
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Growing Up in Burnaby subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:07:55 min)
Material Details
Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Cice Brown Date of Interview: May 13, 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 7 Total length of all Tracks: 0:40:19
Scope and Content
Track 5: This portion of the recording continues with the topic of recreation. The next questions pertain to restrictions on children at the time, cultural diversity, living arrangements, and toys. Cice is asked to describe her best and worst memories. She mentions that there were few restrictions on children, and discusses the nature of community at the time. She comments on the cultural and religious backgrounds of the people she knew. Cice describes her family’s home and living arrangements, and how they reflected her family’s situation. She recalls a favourite toy.
History
Recording of an interview with Cice Brown, interviewed by Tom Gooden on May 13 2005. This recording was completed for an exhibit, Growing Up in Burnaby, for the Burnaby Village Museum. Major themes discussed are growing up in Burnaby in the 1930s and 40s.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Indigenous peoples - British Columbia
Persons - Children
Names
Brown, Cice Chandler
Accession Code
BV017.45.3
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Media Type
Sound Recording
Audio Tracks

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 5, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 5, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0003_005.mp3
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Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 6

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4481
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:04:54 min)
Scope and Content
Track 6: This portion of the recording pertains to toys, continued from Track 5, living arrangements, and lifestyle choices. Cice continues to recall her favourite early childhood toy, and her bicycle, which she received as a teenager. She discusses how her parents made choices according to their f…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Growing Up in Burnaby subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (0:04:54 min)
Material Details
Interviewer: Tom Gooden Interviewee: Cice Brown Date of Interview: May 13, 2005 Total Number of Tracks: 7 Total length of all Tracks: 0:40:19
Scope and Content
Track 6: This portion of the recording pertains to toys, continued from Track 5, living arrangements, and lifestyle choices. Cice continues to recall her favourite early childhood toy, and her bicycle, which she received as a teenager. She discusses how her parents made choices according to their financial situation. Cice talks about her family installing a toilet, and she describes how the money saved for a bathtub was spent purchasing a piano instead.
History
Recording of an interview with Cice Brown, interviewed by Tom Gooden on May 13 2005. This recording was completed for an exhibit, Growing Up in Burnaby, for the Burnaby Village Museum. Major themes discussed are growing up in Burnaby in the 1930s and 40s.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Toys
Sports - Cycling
Persons - Children
Names
Brown, Cice Chandler
Accession Code
BV017.45.3
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005
Media Type
Sound Recording
Audio Tracks

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 6, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005

Interview with Cice Brown, May 13, 2005 - Track 6, 1930-1949 (interview content), interviewed May 10, 2005

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2017_0045_0003_006.mp3
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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
Subseries
Love farmhouse oral history project subseries
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
Names
Stevens, Colin
Parker, William "Bill" Charles
Parker, Albert "Bert"
Love Family
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.mp4
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Interview 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
Subjects
Geographic Features - Parks
Geographic Features - Trails
Planning
Recreational Activities
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
Series
Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series
Media Type
Sound Recording
Audio Tracks

Track two of interview with Alekxos Sarter

Less detail

Interview 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
Names
Bolton, Richard
Barnet Mountain Park
Burnaby Mountain Park
Subjects
Geographic Features - Parks
Planning
Recreational Activities
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
Series
Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series
Media Type
Sound Recording
Audio Tracks

Track three of interview with Alekxos Sarter

Less detail

Interview 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
Names
Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline Company
Suncor Energy Inc.
Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
Subjects
Geographic Features - Parks
Planning
Industries - Petroleum Industry
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
Series
Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series
Media Type
Sound Recording
Audio Tracks

Track four of interview with Alekxos Sarter

Less detail

Interview 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
Names
Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby Mountain Parkway
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
Series
Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series
Media Type
Sound Recording
Audio Tracks

Track six of interview with Alekxos Sarter

Less detail

Interview 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
Names
Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area
Simon Fraser University
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
Series
Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project series
Media Type
Sound Recording
Audio Tracks

Track seven of interview with Alekxos Sarter

Less detail

Interview 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
Subjects
Public Services - Fire Protection
Documentary Artifacts - Photographs
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
Series
Centennial Oral History project series
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
Less detail

Interview 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
Names
Blake, Fred
Auvache, Lewis
Chapman, Henry H.
Subjects
Public Services - Fire Protection
Buildings - Civic
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
Series
Centennial Oral History project series
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
Less detail

Interview 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
Subjects
Public Services - Fire Protection
Buildings - Civic
Transportation - Fire Trucks
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
Series
Centennial Oral History project series
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
Less detail

Interview 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
Subjects
Public Services - Fire Protection
Emergency Measures
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
Series
Centennial Oral History project series
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
Less detail

Interview 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
Subjects
Buildings - Civic - Archives
Buildings - Civic - Museums
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
Series
Centennial Oral History project series
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
Less detail

Interview with Allan Nixon by Rod Fowler February 21, 1990 - Track 8

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory471
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1928-1990
Length
00:07:51
Summary
This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon's father Basil Nixon, who was Provincial Fire Marshall, and his mother Agnes, whose father Thomas Douglas was murdered in 1934, perhaps for political reasons. He also talks about the Burquitlam neighbourhood where his Douglas grandparents lived in the…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon's father Basil Nixon, who was Provincial Fire Marshall, and his mother Agnes, whose father Thomas Douglas was murdered in 1934, perhaps for political reasons. He also talks about the Burquitlam neighbourhood where his Douglas grandparents lived in the heritage home "Seven Gables" on Sullivan Street. He relates some childhood events, including the train wreck on Burnette Creek in 1936.
Date Range
1928-1990
Length
00:07:51
Historic Neighbourhood
Burquitlam (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Lyndhurst Area
Cameron Area
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
Series
Centennial Oral History project series
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
Less detail

Interview with Annie Boulanger by Rod Fowler April 9, 1990 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory483
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1951-1980
Length
00:05:11
Summary
This portion of the interview is about Annie Boulanger’s original move to Burnaby in 1951 with her parents and return in 1964 with her own family. She describes her first involvement in the community through french and gymnastics programs at her children’s school Seaforth and creation of Burnaby’s …
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the interview is about Annie Boulanger’s original move to Burnaby in 1951 with her parents and return in 1964 with her own family. She describes her first involvement in the community through french and gymnastics programs at her children’s school Seaforth and creation of Burnaby’s first gymnastics club.
Date Range
1951-1980
Length
00:05:11
Names
Seaforth School
Subjects
Sports - Gymnastics
Interviewer
Fowler, Rod
Interview Date
April 9, 1990
Scope and Content
Recording is of an interview with Annie Boulanger, conducted by Rod Fowler. Annie Boulanger 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 Annie Boulanger’s volunteer community work in Burnaby, including initiating the teaching of french and gymnastics at Seaforth School where her children attended, doing historical research and oral histories for Burnaby Heritage Village and the SFU Archives, becoming a long term member of the Burnaby Writers’ Club, being a member and President of Burnaby Arts Council, and member of the Parks Board's Centre for the Performing Arts Committee (1987). The interview focuses attention on the Arts Council’s financial difficulties between 1985 and 1990, and the need for a comprehensive approach to supporting the arts through a municipal arts policy. Annie Boulanger also talks about her parents’ history, their home on Napier Street and her later home on Government Road, her education and teaching career, and her arts journalism. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
Biographical Notes
Annie Urbanovits Boulanger’s parents emigrated from Hungary to Toronto, Louis in 1925 and Irene in 1930, where they married. Louis and Irene Boulanger moved to Vancouver where Louis worked in the Vancouver Shipyards during WWII and then for Nichols Chemical Company in Barnet for 15 years. While the Urbanovits family lived in Cloverdale, Louis commuted to Kask’s Camp in Barnet, until they moved to Burnaby in 1951 to an old farm purchased on Napier Street. Between 1951 and 1956 Annie completed her BA degree, majoring in chemistry and english with a minor in physical education, and obtained her teaching diploma at UBC. She taught for 4 years in various locations in BC before marrying and moving to Manitoba and Ottawa. She and her husband and five children (two more children to come later) returned to Burnaby in 1964 to a home on Government Street to be close to family. Annie Boulanger became involved in the community first through her children’s school, initiating and teaching french classes in Seaforth School in 1969, and supporting the development of gymnastics in school and as a municipal program. Her interest in Archives lead to doing oral histories for John Adams, curator of Heritage Village [Burnaby Heritage Village], and for SFU Archives. She became a long time member of the Burnaby Writers’ Club in the 1970s, taking a course in writing non-fiction from Chris Potter. In 1983 Annie Boulanger joined the Burnaby Arts Council, becoming President in 1985. She was involved in lobbying the municipality for better monetary support and facilities for the arts and for the creation of a Municipal Arts Policy. She has continued to promote the arts in Burnaby through her appointment to Burnaby’s Visual Arts Advisory Board in 1997, her arts journalism, writing regular book and theatre reviews for the local newspaper, and other activities. She was a member of the Burnaby Centennial Committee and was one of the editors of the book “Burnaby Centennial Anthology”.
Total Tracks
8
Total Length
0:41:53
Interviewee Name
Boulanger, Annie
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
Series
Centennial Oral History project series
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 Annie Boulanger

Less detail

302 records – page 1 of 16.