Arlene Belcastro tells the story of her grandmother, Dakota Lamb, who was born to Norwegian parents in the late 1800s in North Dakota. She moved to Milk River, Alberta around 1900, then took up residence in Carmengay, Alberta during the Depression where she raised four children as a single mother a…
Arlene Belcastro tells the story of her grandmother, Dakota Lamb, who was born to Norwegian parents in the late 1800s in North Dakota. She moved to Milk River, Alberta around 1900, then took up residence in Carmengay, Alberta during the Depression where she raised four children as a single mother after her husband left. She supported her family by taking in boarders, ironing, and working as a midwife. The family later moved to Edmonton, where she was one of the first Avon ladies. In 1944, she was able to take a job as a pastry cook up north during the construction of the Alaska Highway and save enough money to purchase her own home.
The film includes Arlene’s memories of visiting Grandma Lamb’s rustic cabin at Baptiste Lake north of Edmonton, Alberta. Starting at age 6, Arlene and her cousin, Donna, spent every summer with Grandma Lamb. The rustic cabin did not have running water or electricity, so the girls learned about kerosene lamps, wood stoves, and using a cold storage trunk for refrigeration.
Grandma Lamb taught them life-skills through chores such as gathering kindling and tending the garden, and encouraged their independence. Arlene recalls that they also learned by example from Grandma Lamb, who instilled a respect for nature and for other people and never complained about life or what material things she didn’t have. She was a resilient, respectful, and wise role model.
History
Arlene Belcastro was born in Edmonton and attended H.A. Gray School and Victoria High School, where she completed commercial courses. She was married in Edmonton at age 19, and moved to Calgary after her eldest child was born. She learned to ride a horse at Elkana Ranch at Bragg Creek while living in Calgary. Following the birth of her second son, the family briefly lived in Nassau. Arlene returned to Edmonton after her marriage ended, and soon moved to the Vancouver/Burnaby area where she has lived for more than 40 years. At age 50, Arlene began acting and is currently a student of drumming, a community volunteer, and an avid traveler.
1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 14 cm, mounted in card ; 12.5 x 33.5 cm, folded to 12.5 x 17 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of William Ewart "Bill" Grieve sitting at a table at the Gai Paree Supper Club with Clifford G. Brown. The four other individuals at the table have not been identified.
1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 14 cm, mounted in card ; 12.5 x 33.5 cm, folded to 12.5 x 17 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
523-010
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2011-04
Scope and Content
Photograph of William Ewart "Bill" Grieve sitting at a table at the Gai Paree Supper Club with Clifford G. Brown. The four other individuals at the table have not been identified.
Note on recto of card mount reads: "2004 January I believe the Gai Paree has disappeared"
Notes inside card on recto of photograph mount read: "Maybe wartime?", "Bill Grieve, Chair of Burnaby School Bd circa 1955?" and "Clifford [sic] G. Brown, a school superintendent after whom a Pool named by Burnaby Lake"
Photographs of thirty-nine students and their teacher, Mrs. V. Cuthbertson, on the steps of Austin Heights School in Coquitlam. A note on the back of the picture indicates that this was the grade one class.
Photographs of thirty-nine students and their teacher, Mrs. V. Cuthbertson, on the steps of Austin Heights School in Coquitlam. A note on the back of the picture indicates that this was the grade one class.
Photograph of three men working with rows of equipment at the British Columbia Telephone Company Glenburn Exchange at Delta Avenue and Parker Street. A typed description on the back of the photograph reads, "Automatic equipment being installed in the new Glenburn exchange. / B.C. Telephone Company…
Photograph of three men working with rows of equipment at the British Columbia Telephone Company Glenburn Exchange at Delta Avenue and Parker Street. A typed description on the back of the photograph reads, "Automatic equipment being installed in the new Glenburn exchange. / B.C. Telephone Company."
Stamp and annotation at bottom of photograph reads, "Williams Bros. Photographers Ltd. / 413 Granville St. Vancouver 2, B.C. / Phone Tatlow 8588 / 06569-7"
Photograph of three boys in front of a piano, holding trophies. The two boys seated in front are identified only as the Mandy brothers and the third is unidentified.
Photograph of three boys in front of a piano, holding trophies. The two boys seated in front are identified only as the Mandy brothers and the third is unidentified.
Photographs in this collection were taken and compiled by Norah Code, former editor of the "Burnaby Courier" newspaper during the course of her work for the newspaper.
Studio portrait of little girl, identified as Janice Bower, aged about 18 months. Child is seated with legs stretched out in front of her. She wears a gold necklace with pendant, white dress, and white leather booties.
Studio portrait of little girl, identified as Janice Bower, aged about 18 months. Child is seated with legs stretched out in front of her. She wears a gold necklace with pendant, white dress, and white leather booties.
Photograph of the backyard and screened summer house at 5118 Douglas Road after a snowfall. The summer house was used by the Roberts children for sleeping outdoors in the summertime and by the Small children as a playhouse. It rotted and collapsed in the 1960s, likely following the "Big Snow" of …
Photograph of the backyard and screened summer house at 5118 Douglas Road after a snowfall. The summer house was used by the Roberts children for sleeping outdoors in the summertime and by the Small children as a playhouse. It rotted and collapsed in the 1960s, likely following the "Big Snow" of December 1964.
1 map : col. ; on paper ; 54 x 85 cm folded to 21 x 9 cm
Scope and Content
Item is the BC Electric Guide to Greater Vancouver consisting of a transit system map of Greater Vancouver, a Greater Vancouver Street Index along with listings for Parks, Golf and Country Clubs, etc.
1 map : col. ; on paper ; 54 x 85 cm folded to 21 x 9 cm
Material Details
Scale : one inch equals approximately 0.57 miles
Description Level
Item
Record No.
42686
Accession Number
BHS1996-08
Scope and Content
Item is the BC Electric Guide to Greater Vancouver consisting of a transit system map of Greater Vancouver, a Greater Vancouver Street Index along with listings for Parks, Golf and Country Clubs, etc.
Photograph of B.C. Electric Railway tram no.1232 coming into New Westminster Depot off the Marpole Line. The Mc & Mc store is visible in the background.
Photograph of B.C. Electric Railway tram no.1232 coming into New Westminster Depot off the Marpole Line. The Mc & Mc store is visible in the background.
Typewritten text on verso of photograph reads: "A busy scene at the Marpole Station on the / B.C.E.R. Lulu Island branch, as with white / flags up, Special B.C.E.R. #1222, with a gro (sic) / group of rail fans on board, pauses for / orders, before proceeding on. / September 28, 1957"
Photograph of B.C. Electric Railway tram no. 1207 heading west towards Marpole on a Sunday afternoon in 1955. The Mc & Mc (McLennan & McFeeley) store in New Westminster is visible behind.
Photograph of B.C. Electric Railway tram no. 1207 heading west towards Marpole on a Sunday afternoon in 1955. The Mc & Mc (McLennan & McFeeley) store in New Westminster is visible behind.
Typewritten text on verso of photograph reads: "After threading the cross over from the New / Westminster depot, BCER #1207 heads west / to Marpole on a Sunday after noon in 1955. / #1207 has been brought back from the USA and / is now being refurbished in the POCO garage / of B.C. Transit"
Typewritten text on verso of photograph reads: "On a partly foggy and frosty morning of / October 1956, B.C.E.R. #1216, westbound / to Vancouver on theNew Westminster Div - / ision of the Marpole Line pauses at the / Byrne Road Station."
Phototgraph of B.C. Electric Railway tram no. 1306 running on the tracks between Earles Road and Collingwood west on the Central Park Line. The ground is covered with snow.
Phototgraph of B.C. Electric Railway tram no. 1306 running on the tracks between Earles Road and Collingwood west on the Central Park Line. The ground is covered with snow.
Photograph of B.C. Electric Railway tram no. 1309 travelling along the Central Park Line westbound to Vancouver between Collingwood West and Earls Road after a winter storm. The tracks and hillside are covered with snow.
Photograph of B.C. Electric Railway tram no. 1309 travelling along the Central Park Line westbound to Vancouver between Collingwood West and Earls Road after a winter storm. The tracks and hillside are covered with snow.
Typewritten text on verso of photograph reads: "Home built B.C.E.R. #1309 hurries along / Central Park line westbound to Vancovuer / between Collingwood West and Earls Road / after a winter snow storm in 1953"