Helen 'The Swinging Girl' Neon Sign
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- Commercial building.
- Associated Dates
- 1956
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Other Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear Sign
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Other Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear Sign
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Associated Dates
- 1956
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Enactment Type
- Bylaw No. 12771
- Enactment Date
- 19/04/2010
- Description
- Commercial building.
- Heritage Value
- While the building here is of some importance as the former North Burnaby municipal office, its primary importance is its delightful neon sign that has become a North Burnaby landmark. Helen Arnold opened Helen’s Childrens Wear shop in the building next door to the old Municipal offices in 1948. In 1955, when North Burnaby moved out, she moved into the vacated building. As part of the renovations, Helen enlisted the assistance of her good friend Jimmy Wallace, owner of Vancouver’s Wallace Neon Company, to create a new sign for her expanded business. One of the company’s designers, Reeve Lehman, created the swinging neon girl that was installed in 1956. Designed in two parts, one section of the sign is cloud shaped and reads ‘Helen’s’ while the other section is a moving representation of a little girl on a swing. The sign is nine feet six inches high and nine feet wide, and the lower section is animated with an internal motor and gears. It immediately became a landmark on Hastings Street, and recently the sign’s design fame has spread far and wide as one of the best surviving examples of kinetic neon art in North America.
- Locality
- Vancouver Heights
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Willingdon Heights Area
- Community
- Burnaby
- Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Street Address
- 4142 Hastings Street
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Less detail
Zoey and Johan Makdessi with sign
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 8 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : col. ; 96 dpi.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Zoey (left) and Johan (right) Makdessi standing behind a handpainted sign with a rainbow and hearts and the words "We miss you Teachers!" The children are standing outside on a lawn next to a sidewalk. Zoey is holding a doll.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : col. ; 96 dpi.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Zoey (left) and Johan (right) Makdessi standing behind a handpainted sign with a rainbow and hearts and the words "We miss you Teachers!" The children are standing outside on a lawn next to a sidewalk. Zoey is holding a doll.
- History
- Photograph was taken on April 8 2020 for Taylor Park Elementary School Car Parade. Taylor Park staff with cars gathered at school and then drove through the neighbourhood. The principal Hal Wall organized this because he and his staff want to express their appreciation to parents trying to work from home while teaching their children. He also wanted to have a safe way to say hello and reconnect with students as well as celebrate our community all while maintaining a safe social distance at the height of uncertainty and change of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Subjects
- Persons - Children
- Arts - Paintings
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Advertising Medium - Poster
- Pandemics - COVID-19
- Names
- Makdessi, Zoey
- Makdessi, Johan
- Accession Code
- BV020.20.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 8 Apr. 2020
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail
Airship at New Westminster
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1909
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.2 x 10.8 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a large crowd gathering around an airship in a clearing in New Westminster. The craft bears a banner reading "Motor Boats Built by Hinton Electric Ltd. At Victoria." The airship was piloted by Harry Ginter and made twice daily flights over the 1909 exhibition.
Alfred Hickman
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [195-] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of two men standing outside Hickman's Grocery on Patterson Avenue near the railroad tracks. One of the men is Alfred Hickman, the store's owner. Signs on the store read, "Hickmans / Groceries / Produce" and "Groceries / Hickmans / Meats." Signs in the window advertise wieners and "Mea…
A. Matheson and Sons Market
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1957
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 9.0 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the A. Matheson & Sons store building located at 3576 Kingsway (later renumbered 4920 Kingsway) and Nelson Avenue. Signs on the store read, "A. Matheson & Sons Market / Fresh Meats - Groceries / Quality and Service / Dexter 1372, 1373 / Free Delivery." Additional signs and billboard…
Astor Hotel
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.6 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Astor Hotel at 4561 Kingsway and McKay Avenue. A hotel sign reads, "Welcome HRH Princess Margaret to Burnaby." The Astor Coffee Shop is to the right of the hotel.
Basketball Court Closed
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 8, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Photographic Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a closed basketball court at Edmonds Park. A City of Burnaby facility closure sign is attached to the fence outside the court and the basketball hoops are covered with thick orange netting.
BC Auto Company storefront
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1907]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.8 x 16.7 cm mounted on cardboard 17.6 x 22.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the storefront of the BC Auto Company on Granville Street, Vancouver. Seen displayed in the window are cans of various fluids. Lettered on the window is, "Automobiles. / 924", above which is a sign that reads, "Automobile Supplies." A man in overalls and a hat is standing by the st…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.8 x 16.7 cm mounted on cardboard 17.6 x 22.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the storefront of the BC Auto Company on Granville Street, Vancouver. Seen displayed in the window are cans of various fluids. Lettered on the window is, "Automobiles. / 924", above which is a sign that reads, "Automobile Supplies." A man in overalls and a hat is standing by the store window while three men dressed in suits with ties are standing in front of the garage. By their side is a sign that reads, "Automobiles / Touring Cars / Runabouts / Delivery Cars / Trucks / Heavy and Light / Sole Agents for Buick and Russel Cars./ Autos. For Sale or Hire."
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Automobile Dealerships
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Names
- British Columbia Auto Company
- Geographic Access
- Vancouver
- Accession Code
- HV973.22.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1907]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-05-09
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail
Burnaby Chamber of Commerce
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1959]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.1 x 21.9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the "Yesterday and Today" display, Burnaby Chamber of Commerce. Signs on either side of the display read, "Burnaby has ten miles of Fraser River frontage" and "Burnaby has ten miles of deepsea frontage." In the centre is a display of photographs. Signs on both sides of the display …
Burnaby hospital closes main entrance
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 6, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Photographic Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a rerouting sign posted to a sandwich board outside the Burnaby Hospital emergency lot. The sign states that the hospital entrance is closed and requests visitors use the Main Entrance of the hospital.
Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts and wayfinding signs are set up in the parking lot.
Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.
Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.
Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.
Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.
Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs, white tents and white buildings converted from shipping containers are set up in the parking lot.
Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.
Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. Orange traffic posts, wayfinding signs and white tents are set up in the parking lot.
Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. White shipping container buildings have been set up in the parking lot.
Burnaby's COVID-19 drive thru testing site
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 5 Apr. 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum COVID-19 collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpg)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the COVID-19 drive thru testing site in Central Park parking lot in Burnaby. White shipping container buildings have been set up in the parking lot.