Photograph of a group of people working on the contruction of the Burnaby Historical Society float for the Pacific National Exhibition's parade. The float is decorated as Interurban Tram no. 1223.
Photograph of a group of people working on the contruction of the Burnaby Historical Society float for the Pacific National Exhibition's parade. The float is decorated as Interurban Tram no. 1223.
Photograph of the Burnaby Historical Society float for the Pacific National Exhibition's parade. The float is decorated as Interurban Tram no. 1223, and a man is standing beside the float.
Photograph of the Burnaby Historical Society float for the Pacific National Exhibition's parade. The float is decorated as Interurban Tram no. 1223, and a man is standing beside the float.
Photograph of the Burnaby Historical Society float for the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) Parade. The float is decorated as Interurban Tram no. 1223. In front of the float are two men seated in an old car with a sign reading, "The Hydro Originals" on the side. Two other men are standing besid…
Photograph of the Burnaby Historical Society float for the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) Parade. The float is decorated as Interurban Tram no. 1223. In front of the float are two men seated in an old car with a sign reading, "The Hydro Originals" on the side. Two other men are standing beside it.
Photograph of the Burnaby Historical Society float in the Pacific National Exhibition's parade on Hastings Street. The float is decorated as Interurban Tram no. 1223. Written on the tram roof is, XXX"Burnaby Historical Society," on the side is "The Last Tram," and on the back is "Burnaby / 1223."…
Photograph of the Burnaby Historical Society float in the Pacific National Exhibition's parade on Hastings Street. The float is decorated as Interurban Tram no. 1223. Written on the tram roof is, XXX"Burnaby Historical Society," on the side is "The Last Tram," and on the back is "Burnaby / 1223." Behind the float are two men seated in an old car with a sign reading, "The Hydro Originals" on the side. The stores that can be seen are: Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank of Canada, Ward Music, Hans Grumme Hairstylists, Susie Wong Fashions, and Canadian Pacific Telegrams. A bus stop sign for Main, Hastings, unidentified, Oak, and Victoria buses can also be seen.
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural is entitled, "Burnaby: Where Beauty and Industry Merge."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural is entitled, "Burnaby: Where Beauty and Industry Merge."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. "A Century of Confederation" is painted on the mural, and it is signed "[R.F.] '66."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. "A Century of Confederation" is painted on the mural, and it is signed "[R.F.] '66."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural is of a landscape and is signed "R. Craig."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural is of a landscape and is signed "R. Craig."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural is captioned "First Century," and some of the elements it includes are a cannon with "viva la Quebec" written on the side and a scroll with "1867 BNA" written on it. The mural is signed…
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural is captioned "First Century," and some of the elements it includes are a cannon with "viva la Quebec" written on the side and a scroll with "1867 BNA" written on it. The mural is signed "T. Knapfl '66."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural includes a locomotive and is signed "Peter Turner / Mark Jantz."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural includes a locomotive and is signed "Peter Turner / Mark Jantz."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural includes a ship and is titled "The 'Beaver' at Fort Victoria." It is signed, "[D. Otanen]."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural includes a ship and is titled "The 'Beaver' at Fort Victoria." It is signed, "[D. Otanen]."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural includes mountains and trees and a streetscape. Written at the top right corner of the mural is, "Reserved #51."
Photograph of a completed mural, part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The mural includes mountains and trees and a streetscape. Written at the top right corner of the mural is, "Reserved #51."
This portion of the interview is about Don Brown’s activities with the Parks and Recreation Commission, the relationship between community groups and the Commission, and the development of Central Park. He lists membership in other community groups such as the Historical Society. He also continues …
This portion of the interview is about Don Brown’s activities with the Parks and Recreation Commission, the relationship between community groups and the Commission, and the development of Central Park. He lists membership in other community groups such as the Historical Society. He also continues to describe the activities of the South Burnaby Men’s Club and its change of name to South Burnaby Metrotown Club to include women
Date Range
1952-1990
Photo Info
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Don Brown, November 2, 1997. Item no. 535-0979
Recording is of an interview with Don Brown, conducted by Rod Fowler. Don Brown 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 Don Brown’s description of the changes in Burnaby’s built and natural landscapes and socioeconomic conditions, especially between 1947 and 1975, the strong impression made on him by those changes evident in the interview. He talks about his work and career as a police officer with the Burnaby Provincial Police and RCMP. The interview also details his involvement in Burnaby politics and volunteer community groups. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
Biographical Notes
Donald Neil “Don” Brown was born in Birmingham, England May 4, 1919, and immigrated with his parents and siblings to Winnipeg in 1922. At the outbreak of WWII Don Brown left high school and enlisted in the 12th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, serving six years in the army. Before going overseas he married Helen Birch in 1939. In 1947 Don Brown joined the B.C. Provincial Police which was absorbed by the RCMP in 1950. He worked as a police officer in Burnaby from 1947 to 1954, and then was transferred to Ottawa (with a stop in Regina) for nine and a half years where he attended Carleton University to study forensics. In 1963 Don Brown was transferred back to Vancouver and bought and moved into a house on Watling Street in Burnaby where he still lived in 1990. Another transfer took him to Edmonton for five years, returning to Burnaby in 1975. Following retirement in 1980 with the rank of Supervisor and after 22 years in forensic laboratories, Don Brown started his own business as a private document examiner. Don Brown was active in Burnaby politics, serving as Alderman from 1979-1985. He was also involved in many community groups including the South Burnaby Men’s Club, which he helped found in 1952, as well as active in the Burnaby Historical Society, and served on the Burnaby School Board, Burnaby Centennial Committee, and the Community College for the Retired. Don and Helen Brown had six children: Donna, Don, Gina, Patricia, Christopher and Susan. Don Brown died May 16, 2009.
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.
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.
Photograph of a painter working on a mural beside an store as part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The store's sign reads in part: "[Clothing] / Tools / Rubber / U.S. & Can. Army, Navy, Air Force."
Photograph of a painter working on a mural beside an store as part of the Burnaby Historical Society's Paint-In on Hastings Street. The store's sign reads in part: "[Clothing] / Tools / Rubber / U.S. & Can. Army, Navy, Air Force."
Photograph of the site of the Burnaby Historical Society Paint-In on Hastings Street before painting started. Toban's Quality Shoes can be seen on the right.
Photograph of the site of the Burnaby Historical Society Paint-In on Hastings Street before painting started. Toban's Quality Shoes can be seen on the right.