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 the administration building at the New Haven Borstal Institute. The photograph is taken from across the lawn, facing northwest. A man is looking into the window of the building on the left.
Photograph of the exterior of the administration building at the New Haven Borstal Institute. The photograph is taken from across the lawn, facing northwest. A man is looking into the window of the building on the left.
Photograph of the exterior of the barn at the New Haven Borstal Institute, located at 4250 Marine Drive. The photograph is taken facing northeast. New Haven operated out of the Glen-Lyon Estate, which the provincial government purchased in 1939.
Photograph of the exterior of the barn at the New Haven Borstal Institute, located at 4250 Marine Drive. The photograph is taken facing northeast. New Haven operated out of the Glen-Lyon Estate, which the provincial government purchased in 1939.
Photograph of the side exterior of the main building of the New Haven Borstal Institute, located at 4250 Marine Drive. The main building is the old mansion of the Glen-Lyon estate, which the provincial government purchased in 1939. The photograph is taken from the sidewalk, facing northeast.
Photograph of the side exterior of the main building of the New Haven Borstal Institute, located at 4250 Marine Drive. The main building is the old mansion of the Glen-Lyon estate, which the provincial government purchased in 1939. The photograph is taken from the sidewalk, facing northeast.
Photograph of the side exterior of the main building of the New Haven Borstal Institute, located at 4250 Marine Drive. The main building is the old mansion of the Glen-Lyon estate, which the provincial government purchased in 1939. The photograph is taken from the sidewalk, facing northwest.
Photograph of the side exterior of the main building of the New Haven Borstal Institute, located at 4250 Marine Drive. The main building is the old mansion of the Glen-Lyon estate, which the provincial government purchased in 1939. The photograph is taken from the sidewalk, facing northwest.
Photograph of the exterior of the workshop at the New Haven Borstal Institute, located across the street from the main building at 4250 Marine Drive. The photograph is taken from across the lawn, facing northeast. Cars are parked outside the workshop and the front of the main building, previously t…
Photograph of the exterior of the workshop at the New Haven Borstal Institute, located across the street from the main building at 4250 Marine Drive. The photograph is taken from across the lawn, facing northeast. Cars are parked outside the workshop and the front of the main building, previously the Glen-Lyon estate mansion, is visible in the background.
Photograph of apprentice senior program analyst Don Cowell standing at Simon Fraser University's computer center, holding a sheet of printout, as he smiles at the camera. A woman is sitting at the desk next to him, which holds the console typewriter, reaching to hang up the phone. She is also smili…
Photograph of apprentice senior program analyst Don Cowell standing at Simon Fraser University's computer center, holding a sheet of printout, as he smiles at the camera. A woman is sitting at the desk next to him, which holds the console typewriter, reaching to hang up the phone. She is also smiling. This is the "control unit" for the "first computerised on-line library loan system in Canada".
Photograph of the interior of the Heritage Village Museum schoolhouse with two rows of wooden desks and blackboards. The building was formerly the Elworth (Bateman) house garage before being moved and renovated as a schoolhouse in Heritage Village.
Photograph of the interior of the Heritage Village Museum schoolhouse with two rows of wooden desks and blackboards. The building was formerly the Elworth (Bateman) house garage before being moved and renovated as a schoolhouse in Heritage Village.
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard
Scope and Content
Photograph shows students outside Alpha Secondary School at 4600 Parker Street. The school was built in 1950 with additions in 1953, 1968 and 1969. There were fires in 1956 and 1964 - the burnt portions were replaced and a new gym added in 1966.
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard
Description Level
Item
Record No.
556-368
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2013-13
Scope and Content
Photograph shows students outside Alpha Secondary School at 4600 Parker Street. The school was built in 1950 with additions in 1953, 1968 and 1969. There were fires in 1956 and 1964 - the burnt portions were replaced and a new gym added in 1966.
Photograph of the exterior of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). The photograph is taken facing east on the 3600 block of Willingdon Avenue.
Photograph of the exterior of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). The photograph is taken facing east on the 3600 block of Willingdon Avenue.
Photograph of the exterior of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). The photograph is taken facing east on the 3600 block of Willingdon Avenue.
Photograph of the exterior of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). The photograph is taken facing east on the 3600 block of Willingdon Avenue.
Photograph of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) campus, including main buildings and portables. The photograph is taken from a hgh point, facing northeast, on the 3600 block of Willingdon Avenue. The residential neighbourhood and mountains are visible in the background.
Photograph of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) campus, including main buildings and portables. The photograph is taken from a hgh point, facing northeast, on the 3600 block of Willingdon Avenue. The residential neighbourhood and mountains are visible in the background.
Photograph of the parking lot at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and the British Columbia Vocational School (BCVS) on Wayburne Drive. The parking lot is full of cars and campus buildings are visible in the background. The photograph is taken facing north.
Photograph of the parking lot at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and the British Columbia Vocational School (BCVS) on Wayburne Drive. The parking lot is full of cars and campus buildings are visible in the background. The photograph is taken facing north.
Photograph of the parking lot and the exterior of the British Columbia Vocational School building, located at 3650 Willingdon Avenue. The photograph is taken facing northeast. BCVS merged with BCIT in 1986.
Photograph of the parking lot and the exterior of the British Columbia Vocational School building, located at 3650 Willingdon Avenue. The photograph is taken facing northeast. BCVS merged with BCIT in 1986.
Photograph of the grounds and the exterior of the British Columbia Vocational School, located at 3650 Willingdon Avenue. A directional sign points to the BC Vocational School Administration Building. The photograph is taken facing northeast at the intersection of White Avenue and Goard Way. BCVS me…
Photograph of the grounds and the exterior of the British Columbia Vocational School, located at 3650 Willingdon Avenue. A directional sign points to the BC Vocational School Administration Building. The photograph is taken facing northeast at the intersection of White Avenue and Goard Way. BCVS merged with BCIT in 1986.
Photograph of Centennial High School principal Bill Melville standing on the school's front lawn, shrugging his shoulders as he rests a hand on one of the seventeen for sale signs which were put on the lawn as a prank by the graduating class. Centennial School is located in Coquitlam, BC.
Photograph of Centennial High School principal Bill Melville standing on the school's front lawn, shrugging his shoulders as he rests a hand on one of the seventeen for sale signs which were put on the lawn as a prank by the graduating class. Centennial School is located in Coquitlam, BC.