Photograph of the north side of 3900 Albert Street, looking west. The Vancouver Heights Baptist Church can be seen to the far right (at the corner of Albert Street and Ingleton Avenue).
Photograph of the north side of 3900 Albert Street, looking west. The Vancouver Heights Baptist Church can be seen to the far right (at the corner of Albert Street and Ingleton Avenue).
Photograph looking west along the north side of Albert Street from the 3900 Block. At the far right can be seen the Vancouver Heights Baptist Church, at the intersection of Albert and Ingleton Avenue.
Photograph looking west along the north side of Albert Street from the 3900 Block. At the far right can be seen the Vancouver Heights Baptist Church, at the intersection of Albert and Ingleton Avenue.
This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s description of Burnaby’s growth and business development along Kingsway and Hastings, the Lake City Industrial Park, and the purchase of property in 1958 for the Heritage Park and Art Gallery.
This portion of the interview is about Sev Morin’s description of Burnaby’s growth and business development along Kingsway and Hastings, the Lake City Industrial Park, and the purchase of property in 1958 for the Heritage Park and Art Gallery.
Date Range
1950-1990
Photo Info
Sev Morin (left) of Severin's in Burnaby (formerly the Gai Paree) hosting a gala New Year's celebration, 1979. Item no. 480-712
Recording is of an interview with Severin "Sev" Morin, conducted by Rod Fowler. Sev Morin 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 Sev Morin’s banquet hall, restaurant and night club business on Kingsway, originally named the “Gai Paree Supper Club” (1947-1976) and later “Severin’s” (1976-1985) and “Diego’s” (1985-1994), its function as a Burnaby landmark, and the entertainment and political people he met through his business. He also describes his many volunteer activities in Burnaby, including member of the SFU Senate, Rotary Club, Variety Club and Telethon, fund raising for Burnaby Hospital, and tourism related groups, and his political work for the federal Liberal party. He talks about his parents’ origins, the lives of his brothers Rudy and Rene, and the family’s involvement in establishing the “Gai Paree”. He also shares his views about the business and cultural development of Burnaby. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
Biographical Notes
Severin “Sev” Rene Morin was born September 21, 1927, in Bonneville, Alberta, to Rene Pierre Morin (1878-1963) and Anne Marie (nee Lachiver) Morin (1886-1956). Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Morin and their son Rene Francois (1905-1954) immigrated to Edmonton, Alberta, from France in 1913, where Rene Pierre Morin worked for the C.N.R. and a second son Adolphe “Rudy” Ferdinand (1922-1969) was born, followed by their third son Severin. In 1943, after R.P. Morin retired, the family moved to Burnaby to a house on Sperling Avenue. Sometime earlier the two older Morin brothers found work in Trail at the smelter and developed musical careers. In 1946/47 the Morin family purchased property on Kingsway and built a banquet hall, the “Gai Paree Supper Club”. Sev and Rudy Morin managed the club and Rene F. Morin moved to Burnaby to join them with his band. The supper club, with its live music and dance floor, became a popular meeting place and wedding venue, eventually expanding into a restaurant and nightclub in the 1970s. The “Gai Paree” was renamed “Severin’s” in 1976 and “Diego’s” in 1985, closing finally in 1994. Sev Morin’s business life included three record stores which he owned with his friend Jack Cullen. Through these businesses Sev Morin was well known in the entertainment and hospitality industry. He and his restaurant also hosted political and social events that made the restaurant a community landmark. Sev Morin contributed many volunteer hours to community and charitable organizations, including an appointment to the SFU Senate, fundraising for the Burnaby Hospital, Director of the Variety Club and Rotary Club, and consultant for a variety of tourism related ventures. He also was active in the federal Liberal Party. Sev Morin and his wife Pauline married in 1950 and had three children. Sev Morin died at age 86 on March 28, 2014.
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 the exterior of a two-storey house located at 7530 Buller Avenue. The photograph depicts the house at dusk; the house stands behind a wooden fence and is surrounded by trees. The house was constructed in 1924 and was formerly known as "Ryverbrae," the William & Esther Burdick Residenc…
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey house located at 7530 Buller Avenue. The photograph depicts the house at dusk; the house stands behind a wooden fence and is surrounded by trees. The house was constructed in 1924 and was formerly known as "Ryverbrae," the William & Esther Burdick Residence.
Photograph of the 7500 block of Edmonds Street at dusk. The photograph is taken from across Edmonds Street and depicts two commercial buildings: Oh! Zzhu Sam Korean Restaurant and the European Butcher Boy Delicatessen & Grocery. Oh! Zzhu Sam, located at 7506 Edmonds Street, was constructed in 1976.…
Photograph of the 7500 block of Edmonds Street at dusk. The photograph is taken from across Edmonds Street and depicts two commercial buildings: Oh! Zzhu Sam Korean Restaurant and the European Butcher Boy Delicatessen & Grocery. Oh! Zzhu Sam, located at 7506 Edmonds Street, was constructed in 1976. Residential houses border the restaurant and grocery store, and a bus shelter, municipal garbage can, and the restaurant's illuminated neon sign stand in front of the buildings.
Photograph of the intersection of Imperial Street and Sussex Avenue at night and in the rain. The photograph shows the Trafalgar Market grocery store (located at 4398 Imperial Street; the building was constructed in 1940) on the corner, with a large display of flowers for sale under the awning in f…
Photograph of the intersection of Imperial Street and Sussex Avenue at night and in the rain. The photograph shows the Trafalgar Market grocery store (located at 4398 Imperial Street; the building was constructed in 1940) on the corner, with a large display of flowers for sale under the awning in front of the store. The street and traffic lights are reflected in the puddles on the road, and cars and other businesses are visible along Imperial Street.
Photograph of the exterior of a house located at 3955 Moscrop Street. The house was constructed in 1954. The photograph depicts the house at night, with the house's porch light on, and a car is in the driveway in front of the house.
Photograph of the exterior of a house located at 3955 Moscrop Street. The house was constructed in 1954. The photograph depicts the house at night, with the house's porch light on, and a car is in the driveway in front of the house.
Photograph of the front steps and the entrance of a three-storey apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The photograph depicts the building at night, with the lobby and some of the apartments' windows illuminated from inside. The building was constructed in 1971.
Photograph of the front steps and the entrance of a three-storey apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The photograph depicts the building at night, with the lobby and some of the apartments' windows illuminated from inside. The building was constructed in 1971.
Photograph of the entrance of an apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The building was constructed in 1971. The photograph depicts the entrance and the lobby from the exterior at night. The lobby is illuminated and a crest featuring an "E" is on the entrance window.
Photograph of the entrance of an apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The building was constructed in 1971. The photograph depicts the entrance and the lobby from the exterior at night. The lobby is illuminated and a crest featuring an "E" is on the entrance window.
Photograph of a multi-storey house located at 5990 Irmin Street. The photograph depicts of the exterior of the house at dusk; a light is on in one of the house's rooms and a vehicle is parked in the house's driveway next to a portable garage. A "For Sale" sign on the edge of the property reads: "Fu…
Photograph of a multi-storey house located at 5990 Irmin Street. The photograph depicts of the exterior of the house at dusk; a light is on in one of the house's rooms and a vehicle is parked in the house's driveway next to a portable garage. A "For Sale" sign on the edge of the property reads: "Future Development Land." Another house is visible in the background. The house was constructed in 1923 and is nearby to 7530 Buller Avenue.
Photograph of the front steps and entry to a three-storey apartment building, located at 6280 Marlborough Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night and shows the brick building's details, including its lion statues and busts along the stair railings and the curved arches in front of the …
Photograph of the front steps and entry to a three-storey apartment building, located at 6280 Marlborough Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night and shows the brick building's details, including its lion statues and busts along the stair railings and the curved arches in front of the front windows and door. The building was constructed in 1973.
Photograph of the exterior of a single-storey house located at 6410 Denbigh Avenue, taken from across the street at dusk. The house was constructed in 1949. Lights illuminate the front porch and the interior of one of the house's windows and there is a small amount of snow on the lawn in front of t…
Photograph of the exterior of a single-storey house located at 6410 Denbigh Avenue, taken from across the street at dusk. The house was constructed in 1949. Lights illuminate the front porch and the interior of one of the house's windows and there is a small amount of snow on the lawn in front of the house.
Photograph of the corner and side of the exterior of a concrete low-rise apartment building located at 6508 Silver Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at dusk. Some of the apartment windows are lit up from inside, and plant pots are lined up along the third-floor balcony. A chain link fence…
Photograph of the corner and side of the exterior of a concrete low-rise apartment building located at 6508 Silver Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at dusk. Some of the apartment windows are lit up from inside, and plant pots are lined up along the third-floor balcony. A chain link fence surrounds the backyard. The building was constructed in 1966.
Photograph of the entrance, including the front steps and ramp, to a low-rise apartment building located at 6615 Telford Avenue. The building was constructed in 1964. The photograph depicts the building at night, and trees and bushes partially obscure the entrance. The building's lobby is illuminat…
Photograph of the entrance, including the front steps and ramp, to a low-rise apartment building located at 6615 Telford Avenue. The building was constructed in 1964. The photograph depicts the building at night, and trees and bushes partially obscure the entrance. The building's lobby is illuminated and the apartments' mailboxes are visible through the window.
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey apartment building located at 6692 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building from across the street at night; the lobby and some of the apartment windows are lit up, with a bunch of balloons in one window, and a car is parked on the street in front o…
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey apartment building located at 6692 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building from across the street at night; the lobby and some of the apartment windows are lit up, with a bunch of balloons in one window, and a car is parked on the street in front of the building. The building was constructed in 1959.
Photograph of the entrance to an apartment building located at 6700 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night; the lobby and stairs are illuminated by exterior and interior lights. The building was constructed in 1968.
Photograph of the entrance to an apartment building located at 6700 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night; the lobby and stairs are illuminated by exterior and interior lights. The building was constructed in 1968.
Photograph of four children (unidentified) playing in the water, in front of the Baldwin House. The Baldwin House was built in 1965 and was designed by architect Arthur Erickson for his friends Dr. William and Ruth Baldwin.
Photograph of four children (unidentified) playing in the water, in front of the Baldwin House. The Baldwin House was built in 1965 and was designed by architect Arthur Erickson for his friends Dr. William and Ruth Baldwin.