Photograph of a two people (assumed to be Frank and Mary Intihar) sitting on a couch with a cake on the table in front of them. Believed to be taken inside 4169 Keefer Street (Frances Street) Burnaby.
Photograph of a two people (assumed to be Frank and Mary Intihar) sitting on a couch with a cake on the table in front of them. Believed to be taken inside 4169 Keefer Street (Frances Street) Burnaby.
Photograph of three people holding a bell. Burnaby Parks Commissioner and former chair of the Burnaby Centennial Committee, James A. Barrington is identified on the left and Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable is identified on the right.
Photograph of three people holding a bell. Burnaby Parks Commissioner and former chair of the Burnaby Centennial Committee, James A. Barrington is identified on the left and Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable is identified on the right.
This portion of the interview is about Dr. Ron Baker’s discussion about the choice of branding SFU the “engaged” university at the time of its 50th Anniversary, and the need for university Presidents to fund raise. He talks about the relationship between UBC and SFU, and the reasons for hostility t…
This portion of the interview is about Dr. Ron Baker’s discussion about the choice of branding SFU the “engaged” university at the time of its 50th Anniversary, and the need for university Presidents to fund raise. He talks about the relationship between UBC and SFU, and the reasons for hostility towards UBC in the 1950s, especially from interior BC communities.
Recording is of an interview with Dr. Ronald James Baker conducted by Kathy Bossort. Ron Baker was one of 23 participants interviewed as part of the Community Heritage Commission’s Burnaby Mountain Oral History Project. The interview is mainly about the founding of Simon Fraser University from the perspective of SFU’s first faculty member and Director of Academic Planning, Ron Baker. Ron Baker talks about John B. Macdonald’s report on higher education in BC (1962) and how it lead to the provincial government’s decision to establish a new university and to put it in the Burnaby area. He tells stories about how the site on Burnaby Mountain was chosen; about the building of the campus; and about the challenges of planning the academic structure of the university. He also talks about the attraction of creating with little interference an institution trying out new ideas and tells stories about his working relationship with Gordon Shrum. He considers the problems created by building universities in out of the way places and the ideas such as UniverCity for dealing with SFU’s isolation.
Biographical Notes
Ron Baker was born in London, England, in 1924, and served in the Royal Air Force during WW2. He emigrated to Canada in 1947 and studied at UBC where he obtained a BA degree (1951) and MA degree (1953) in English Language and Literature. He served on the faculty of the UBC English Department beginning as a lecturer in 1951 and advanced to positions of Assistant Professor (1958-63) and Associate Professor (1963-65). He was a contributor to John B. Macdonald’s 1962 report “Higher Education in British Columbia and a Plan for the Future”, and continued to make significant contributions to the establishment of the community college system in Canada throughout his career. In 1963 the newly established Simon Fraser University hired Ron as its first Director of Academic Planning, serving also as first head of SFU’s English Department. In 1969 Ron left SFU to become the first President of the University of Prince Edward Island, a position he held until 1978. In 1978 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to higher education. Ron has contributed to many organizations, including serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, on Canada Council, and as President of Association of Atlantic Universities and the Association of Canadian University Teachers of English. In 1990 Ron Baker was asked by the government of BC to prepare a preliminary report on the establishment of the future UNBC in Prince George. Now retired Ron Baker lives in the Edmonds area of Burnaby.
Kathy Bossort is a retired archivist living in Ladner, BC. She worked at the Delta Museum and Archives after graduating from SLAIS (UBC) in 2001 with Masters degrees in library science and archival studies. Kathy grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and, prior to this career change, she lived in the West Kootenays, earning her living as a cook for BC tourist lodges and work camps. She continues to be interested in oral histories as a way to fill the gaps in the written record and bring richer meaning to history.
Photograph of antique fire truck in antique car parade leading to the Heritage Village sod-turning event on April 11, 1971. Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) was Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative project.
Photograph of antique fire truck in antique car parade leading to the Heritage Village sod-turning event on April 11, 1971. Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) was Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative project.
Photograph of a marching bagpipe band in parade leading to the Heritage Village sod-turning event on April 11, 1971. Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) was Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative project.
Photograph of a marching bagpipe band in parade leading to the Heritage Village sod-turning event on April 11, 1971. Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) was Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative project.
Photograph of a marching bagpipe band in parade leading to the Heritage Village sod-turning event on April 11, 1971. Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) was Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative project.
Photograph of a marching bagpipe band in parade leading to the Heritage Village sod-turning event on April 11, 1971. Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) was Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative project.
Photograph of Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee vice chair, Rose Bancroft with microphone and former Miss Burnaby 1969 Carolyne Lewis former Miss Burnaby 1970 Melodie Spring, acting-mayor Hugh G. Ladner and Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee chair James Barrington on stage during the Burnaby Rhododend…
Photograph of Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee vice chair, Rose Bancroft with microphone and former Miss Burnaby 1969 Carolyne Lewis former Miss Burnaby 1970 Melodie Spring, acting-mayor Hugh G. Ladner and Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee chair James Barrington on stage during the Burnaby Rhododendron Festival.
Photograph of acting-mayor Hugh G. Ladner, former Miss Burnaby 1969, Carolyne Lewis and former Miss Burnaby 1970 Melodie Spring on stage during the Burnaby Rhododendron Festival.
Photograph of acting-mayor Hugh G. Ladner, former Miss Burnaby 1969, Carolyne Lewis and former Miss Burnaby 1970 Melodie Spring on stage during the Burnaby Rhododendron Festival.
Photograph of Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee chair, James Barrington, vice chair, Rose Bancroft, former Miss Burnaby 1969 Carolyne Lewis and fomer Miss Burnaby 1970 Melodie Spring on stage during the Burnaby Rhododendron Festival.
Photograph of Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee chair, James Barrington, vice chair, Rose Bancroft, former Miss Burnaby 1969 Carolyne Lewis and fomer Miss Burnaby 1970 Melodie Spring on stage during the Burnaby Rhododendron Festival.
Photograph of dignitaries at opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) on November 19, 1971. Mrs. Alice Burritt, Mrs. Centennial of Canada, 1967 (dressed in traditional indigenous clothing) greets Governor-General Roland Michener (in black suit) with a kiss on the cheek. Members of t…
Photograph of dignitaries at opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) on November 19, 1971. Mrs. Alice Burritt, Mrs. Centennial of Canada, 1967 (dressed in traditional indigenous clothing) greets Governor-General Roland Michener (in black suit) with a kiss on the cheek. Members of the Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee and guests are standing behind.
Photograph of Governor General Roland Michener giving speech at opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971. A large plaque is on the wall behind him.
Photograph of Governor General Roland Michener giving speech at opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971. A large plaque is on the wall behind him.
Photograph of Governor General Roland Michener giving speech at opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971. A large plaque and centennial banners are hanging on the wall behind him.
Photograph of Governor General Roland Michener giving speech at opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971. A large plaque and centennial banners are hanging on the wall behind him.
Photograph of Governor General Roland Michener giving speech at opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971. A large plaque and centennial banners are hanging on the wall behind him.
Photograph of Governor General Roland Michener giving speech at opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971. A large plaque and centennial banners are hanging on the wall behind him.
Photograph of H.B. MacLean, authour of "The MacLean Method of Writing" assisting an unidentified boy with writing on a chalk board inside of the Heritage Village schoolhouse. H.B. MacLean was present as part of the opening of Heritage Village Museum on November 19, 1971.
Photograph of H.B. MacLean, authour of "The MacLean Method of Writing" assisting an unidentified boy with writing on a chalk board inside of the Heritage Village schoolhouse. H.B. MacLean was present as part of the opening of Heritage Village Museum on November 19, 1971.
Photograph of H.B. MacLean, authour of "The MacLean Method of Writing" teaching students inside of the Heritage Village schoolhouse. H.B. MacLean was present as part of the opening of Heritage Village Museum on November 19, 1971.
Photograph of H.B. MacLean, authour of "The MacLean Method of Writing" teaching students inside of the Heritage Village schoolhouse. H.B. MacLean was present as part of the opening of Heritage Village Museum on November 19, 1971.
Photograph of H.B. MacLean, authour of "The MacLean Method of Writing" teaching students inside of the Heritage Village schoolhouse. H.B. MacLean was present as part of the opening of Heritage Village Museum on November 19, 1971.
Photograph of H.B. MacLean, authour of "The MacLean Method of Writing" teaching students inside of the Heritage Village schoolhouse. H.B. MacLean was present as part of the opening of Heritage Village Museum on November 19, 1971.
Photograph of Vancouver Fire Department "1930 La France" fire truck in antique car parade leading to the Heritage Village sod-turning event on April 11, 1971. Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) was Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative project.
Photograph of Vancouver Fire Department "1930 La France" fire truck in antique car parade leading to the Heritage Village sod-turning event on April 11, 1971. Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) was Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative project.
Photograph of marching band in parade leading to official sod-turning at Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), April 11, 1971. Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) was Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative project.
Photograph of marching band in parade leading to official sod-turning at Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), April 11, 1971. Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) was Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative project.