This portion of the interview continues Kay Zimmerman’s description of the BVA and the election of councillors and then mayors from the party, Dave Mercier 1979-1981 and Bill Lewarne 1981-1987. She talks about resistance to paying for the road to SFU as a “local improvement”, Heritage Village as a …
This portion of the interview continues Kay Zimmerman’s description of the BVA and the election of councillors and then mayors from the party, Dave Mercier 1979-1981 and Bill Lewarne 1981-1987. She talks about resistance to paying for the road to SFU as a “local improvement”, Heritage Village as a Centennial Project, differing BVA support in north and south Burnaby, and Alan Emmott’s political career.
Recording is of an interview with Kay Zimmerman, conducted by Rod Fowler. Kay Zimmerman 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 Kay Zimmerman’s political activities in Burnaby and her description of her Lochdale neighbourhood in the 1960s. She provides an excellent overview of the municipal political groups and important political issues in Burnaby from 1960 to 1980. She tells the story about an early and successful political action that convinced her that an individual can make a difference. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
Biographical Notes
Kathleen “Kay” Zimmerman, her husband Gordon and their young son Rick moved to Burnaby from Vancouver in 1960 to a house on Curtis Avenue near Duthie Street (a second son Bruce was born in Burnaby). Kay Zimmerman worked 12 years at Royal Columbian Hospital in the admitting office, then 4 years (1974-1979) as special assistant to Senator Ray Perrault, followed by work as a judge on the Citizenship Court before retiring. Gordon Zimmerman worked at the Shell Refinery. A member of the Liberal Party and political activist before arriving in Burnaby, Kay Zimmerman continued her involvement in national and local politics. She campaigned for Ray Perrault during the Trudeau years, and was a founder and active member of the Burnaby Voters Association (BVA). Her political activities encompassed 30 years that saw major changes in Burnaby, including the building of SFU, creation of Heritage Village, an awakening environmental sensibility, and a dramatic increase in population and development in Burnaby.
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 Royal Canadian Mounted Police staff-sergeant Bruce Northorp in uniform, shaking hands with Burnaby Mayor Robert Prittie, as the Mayor presents him with the RCMP's 20-year long-service metal at a ceremony at city hall.
Photograph of Royal Canadian Mounted Police staff-sergeant Bruce Northorp in uniform, shaking hands with Burnaby Mayor Robert Prittie, as the Mayor presents him with the RCMP's 20-year long-service metal at a ceremony at city hall.
Photograph of three men standing at the Edmonds Bus Loop; Reeve Alan Emmott (left), cartoonist Fraser Wilson, and unidentified man. They are wearing hats that read, "[Wa...r's] Paints." The Twelfth St. bus can be seen on the left behind them.
Photograph of three men standing at the Edmonds Bus Loop; Reeve Alan Emmott (left), cartoonist Fraser Wilson, and unidentified man. They are wearing hats that read, "[Wa...r's] Paints." The Twelfth St. bus can be seen on the left behind them.
Photograph of all of the Burnaby Citizen's Association candidates taking over the bandstand at the Burnaby Citizen's Association (BCA) dance at James Cowan Memorial Centre (now the James Cowan Theatre at The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts). The 'vocal trio' of School Board candidates; Bill Burke, Car…
Photograph of all of the Burnaby Citizen's Association candidates taking over the bandstand at the Burnaby Citizen's Association (BCA) dance at James Cowan Memorial Centre (now the James Cowan Theatre at The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts). The 'vocal trio' of School Board candidates; Bill Burke, Caroline Prior, and Cliff Murnane. Candidates for council; Joe Corsbie on drums, Dave Herd on saxophone, Jim Lorimer on piccolo, and Del Carrell on piano, with mayoral candidate Bob Prittie as conductor. Robert W. Prittie was Mayor of Burnaby from 1969 to 1973.
Photograph of Burnaby Citizen's Association candidates; school board trustee Caroline Prior, Mayor Bob Prittie, and aldermanic candidate Del Carrell filing civic election nomination papers at City Hall.
Photograph of Burnaby Citizen's Association candidates; school board trustee Caroline Prior, Mayor Bob Prittie, and aldermanic candidate Del Carrell filing civic election nomination papers at City Hall.
Newspaper clipping attached to verso of photograph reads: "Filing civic election nomination papers at municipal hall are BCA candidates Mrs. Caroline Prior, incumbent school board trustee; mayoralty [sic] candidate Robert Prittie, and aldermanic candidate Mrs. Del Carrell."
Photograph of federal election candidates and Burnaby officials having a look at the architectural model for the (then soon to be constructed) Burnaby Aquarium of Ecology. Identified (from left) are; architect-designer Peter F. Smith, chairman of the Burnay parks commission A.B. "Sandy" Stewart, Li…
Photograph of federal election candidates and Burnaby officials having a look at the architectural model for the (then soon to be constructed) Burnaby Aquarium of Ecology. Identified (from left) are; architect-designer Peter F. Smith, chairman of the Burnay parks commission A.B. "Sandy" Stewart, Liberal candidate Ray Perrault, mayor Alan Emmott, and Aquarium promoter and president Don Spiegel.
Photograph of Bob Prittie, the New Democratic Party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnaby-Richmond from 1962 to 1968. He was a Burnaby Councillor from 1959 to 1962, and served as Mayor of Burnaby from 1969 to 1973.
Photograph of Bob Prittie, the New Democratic Party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnaby-Richmond from 1962 to 1968. He was a Burnaby Councillor from 1959 to 1962, and served as Mayor of Burnaby from 1969 to 1973.
Photograph of Burnaby Municipal Council and staff seated in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Hall, 4949 Canada Way. Councillors, anti-clockwise starting at upper left: Camille Mather, Malcolm J. Harper, John D. Drummond, Charles W. MacSorley, Donald H. Jamieson, Russell E. Hicks, James H. Edwa…
Photograph of Burnaby Municipal Council and staff seated in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Hall, 4949 Canada Way. Councillors, anti-clockwise starting at upper left: Camille Mather, Malcolm J. Harper, John D. Drummond, Charles W. MacSorley, Donald H. Jamieson, Russell E. Hicks, James H. Edwards, and Robert W. Prittie. Staff, seated at table at back, left to right: J.H. Shaw (Clerk), H.W. Balfour (Manager), and S.B. McCafferty (Treasurer). Reeve Alan H. Emmott is seated on the dias.
Annotation at bottom of photograph reads, "Burnaby Council Members - 1960"
Stamp and annotation on back of photograph reads, "Croton Studio / Don Leblanc / Middlegate Shopping Centre, 406-7155 Kingsway, South Burnaby B.C. / Lakeview 2-2848 / File Number: 1114, Negative Number: 2"
Photograph of Emmet J. Cafferky and Robert W. Prittie when they were running against each other for Mayor of Burnaby. Emmet J. Cafferky was a Burnaby Alderman from 1957 to 1958, and again from 1963 to 1966. Robert Prittie was a New Democrat Member of Parliament from Burnaby-Richmond from 1962 to 19…
Photograph of Emmet J. Cafferky and Robert W. Prittie when they were running against each other for Mayor of Burnaby. Emmet J. Cafferky was a Burnaby Alderman from 1957 to 1958, and again from 1963 to 1966. Robert Prittie was a New Democrat Member of Parliament from Burnaby-Richmond from 1962 to 1968 and mayor of Burnaby from 1969 to 1973.
Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie sitting behind a desk, smiling, and wearing the Chain of Office. Sitting next him at the left, is Judge Graham Ladner, the father of Alderman Hugh Ladner (not pictured). Robert W. Prittie was the New Democratic Party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnaby-Richmond f…
Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie sitting behind a desk, smiling, and wearing the Chain of Office. Sitting next him at the left, is Judge Graham Ladner, the father of Alderman Hugh Ladner (not pictured). Robert W. Prittie was the New Democratic Party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnaby-Richmond from 1962 to 1968. He was a Burnaby Councillor from 1959 to 1962, and served as Mayor of Burnaby from 1969 to 1973.
Item is a photograph of men seated in rows. Harold Winch can be seen in the last row. This photograph may be related to Winch's work on one of three defence committees during the 1960s. This may be the same aircraft carrier pictured in photograph BV013.12.84.
Item is a photograph of men seated in rows. Harold Winch can be seen in the last row. This photograph may be related to Winch's work on one of three defence committees during the 1960s. This may be the same aircraft carrier pictured in photograph BV013.12.84.
Item is a photograph of members of a federal defence committee with uniformed officers. Harold Winch, pictured in the photograph, sat on three defence committees during the 1960s.
Item is a photograph of members of a federal defence committee with uniformed officers. Harold Winch, pictured in the photograph, sat on three defence committees during the 1960s.
Item is a photograph of Harold Winch with two men on board an aircraft carrier. One man's nametag says "W Dupre." This may be the aircraft carrier "Bonny" identified in photograph BV013.12.91. This photograph may be related to Harold Winch's work on one of three defence committees during the 1960s.
Item is a photograph of Harold Winch with two men on board an aircraft carrier. One man's nametag says "W Dupre." This may be the aircraft carrier "Bonny" identified in photograph BV013.12.91. This photograph may be related to Harold Winch's work on one of three defence committees during the 1960s.
Item is a photograph of a group of delegates or officials watching a guard dog demonstration at a military facility in Quebec. This photograph may be related to Harold Winch's work on one of three defence committees during the 1960s.
Item is a photograph of a group of delegates or officials watching a guard dog demonstration at a military facility in Quebec. This photograph may be related to Harold Winch's work on one of three defence committees during the 1960s.
Item is a photograph of Harold Winch and a man in military uniform, on board what may be a Canadian Navy craft. This photograph may be related to Winch's work on one of three defence committees during the 1960s.
Item is a photograph of Harold Winch and a man in military uniform, on board what may be a Canadian Navy craft. This photograph may be related to Winch's work on one of three defence committees during the 1960s.
Item is a photograph of a group of delegates and military personnel in front of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), a multinational military branch of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Contrary to the inscription on the photograph, SHAPE is located in Casteau, Belgium. H…
Item is a photograph of a group of delegates and military personnel in front of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), a multinational military branch of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Contrary to the inscription on the photograph, SHAPE is located in Casteau, Belgium. Harold Winch is second from right in the last row.
Item is a photograph of three men next to a helicopter on board a Canadian Navy craft. Harold Winch is pictured in the centre. This photograph may be related to Winch's work on one of three defence committees during the 1960s.
Item is a photograph of three men next to a helicopter on board a Canadian Navy craft. Harold Winch is pictured in the centre. This photograph may be related to Winch's work on one of three defence committees during the 1960s.