Photograph of the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts' digital marquee on Canada Way, at night. The marquee, which reads "Closed", is brightly illuminated in the dark.
Photograph of the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts' digital marquee on Canada Way, at night. The marquee, which reads "Closed", is brightly illuminated in the dark.
Photograph of a sign along the Burnaby Lake Freeway Trail that reads: "Do your part. Stay 2 metres apart." The sign has a silhoutte drawing of an eagle with its wings open to illustrate the distance of two metres.
Photograph of a sign along the Burnaby Lake Freeway Trail that reads: "Do your part. Stay 2 metres apart." The sign has a silhoutte drawing of an eagle with its wings open to illustrate the distance of two metres.
Photograph of a window of the Burnaby RCMP Detachment decorated with red and purple paper hearts. The photograph was taken at night, illuminating the office inside.
Photograph of a window of the Burnaby RCMP Detachment decorated with red and purple paper hearts. The photograph was taken at night, illuminating the office inside.
This portion of the interview pertains to Minard Gerald "Gerry" Hill's relatives in England, his father's early life as well as life on the strawberry farm in Burnaby.
This portion of the interview pertains to Minard Gerald "Gerry" Hill's relatives in England, his father's early life as well as life on the strawberry farm in Burnaby.
Date Range
1880-1914
Photo Info
Minard Gerald Hill in uniform, 1914. Item no. 477-926
Recording is of an interview with Minard Gerald "Gerry" Hill conducted by Colin Stevens, February 9, 1978. Major themes discussed are: the Burnaby Lake Neighbourhood, Gilley Brothers Logging Company and his father, Bernard Hill.
Biographical Notes
Minard Gerald “Gerry” Hill was born in Burnaby on July 31, 1893 to Marian (Berkeley) and Bernard Richard Hill. He was the youngest child in the family with older siblings Frank, Claude and Winnie.
Bernard R. Hill was born in Bengal, India while his father worked for the East Indian Railway. He and his older brother Claude became strawberry farmers in Burnaby despite their years of training as engineers. Between them, the Hill brothers owned all the land between Burnaby Lake and Deer Lake where Deer Creek runs, and half way around Deer Lake. Bernard built his family home at Douglas Road near Deer Lake in 1892. After the decline in the strawberry industry, Bernard worked as a surveyor for the municipality. He also served as Burnaby Councillor and School Trustee.
Gerry attended Miss Harriet Woodward’s kindergarten class, and went on to Edmonds School with Miss Ellen Lister as his teacher. He later went to Central high school in New Westminster, often on horseback.
Gerry served in World War I, signing his recruitment papers November 9, 1914. When he returned home, he worked felling trees, then as an apprentice surveyor and finally as a carpenter.
Minard Gerald “Gerry” Hill married Charlotte Elizabeth “Elizabeth” Vidal on September 28, 1920 and single-handedly built a house for him and his wife about a thousand feet from his parents’ home. He also bought property at Yellow Point, Vancouver Island around this time.
By the early 1930s Gerry had moved to Yellow Point permanently and begun work building the lodge. Elizabeth and Gerry’s child, Richard Grant McEwan Hill was born at Ladysmith hospital.
Charlotte Elizabeth “Elizabeth” (Vidal) Hill died February 11, 1984 at the age of eighty-seven.
Minard Gerald “Gerry” Hill died January 30, 1988 at the age of ninety-three.
Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.
Photograph of the gardens outside the Shadbolt Centre of the Arts. In the foreground, attached to a tree is a sign encouraging social distancing; in the background is a jungle gym fenced off with orange mesh and caution tape to prohibit climbing.
Photograph of the gardens outside the Shadbolt Centre of the Arts. In the foreground, attached to a tree is a sign encouraging social distancing; in the background is a jungle gym fenced off with orange mesh and caution tape to prohibit climbing.
Photograph of a multi-coloured chalk drawing in the lane connecting Laurel Street and Hyde Street, at Godwin Avenue. The drawing contains the message "Radiate Positive Vibes" surrounded by wavy concentric rings.
Photograph of a multi-coloured chalk drawing in the lane connecting Laurel Street and Hyde Street, at Godwin Avenue. The drawing contains the message "Radiate Positive Vibes" surrounded by wavy concentric rings.