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 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.
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 rear exterior of Mathers House (Altnadene), which was purchased by Burnaby in 1971 for use as part of the James Cowan Centre, now the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. The photograph is taken facing southeast.
Photograph of the rear exterior of Mathers House (Altnadene), which was purchased by Burnaby in 1971 for use as part of the James Cowan Centre, now the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. The photograph is taken facing southeast.
Photograph of the front exterior of the Burnaby Art Gallery (Ceperley/Fairacres) and Century Gardens. The photograph is taken from a garden path, facing northwest.
Photograph of the front exterior of the Burnaby Art Gallery (Ceperley/Fairacres) and Century Gardens. The photograph is taken from a garden path, facing northwest.
Photograph of the rear exterior of the Burnaby Art Gallery (Ceperley/Fairacres). The photograph is taken from a parking lot, facing east, and shows the entrance to the Art Gallery.
Photograph of the rear exterior of the Burnaby Art Gallery (Ceperley/Fairacres). The photograph is taken from a parking lot, facing east, and shows the entrance to the Art Gallery.
Photograph of the back of the Whitechurch Hardware building during the preparation for the building to be moved from 7685 Sixth Street to Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum). The back of the building is supported with a temporary back for the move.
Photograph of the back of the Whitechurch Hardware building during the preparation for the building to be moved from 7685 Sixth Street to Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum). The back of the building is supported with a temporary back for the move.
Photograph of the back of the Whitechurch Hardware building during the preparation for the building to be moved by the Nickel Brothers house moving company from 7685 Sixth Street to Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum). Right section of back of the building is missing.
Photograph of the back of the Whitechurch Hardware building during the preparation for the building to be moved by the Nickel Brothers house moving company from 7685 Sixth Street to Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum). Right section of back of the building is missing.
Photograph of a pile of bricks stacked on the ground next to the Whitechurch Hardware building at 7685 Sixth Street. Bricks from the chimney were removed in preparation for the building to be moved by Nickel Brothers house moving company from 7685 Sixth Street to Heritage Village (Burnaby Village M…
Photograph of a pile of bricks stacked on the ground next to the Whitechurch Hardware building at 7685 Sixth Street. Bricks from the chimney were removed in preparation for the building to be moved by Nickel Brothers house moving company from 7685 Sixth Street to Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum).
Photograph of a group of children and a dog gathered to watch the Whitechurch Hardware get raised up in preparation for it to be moved to Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum). The building is located at 7685 Sixth Street. Bricks that were removed from the building's chimney are stacked next to…
Photograph of a group of children and a dog gathered to watch the Whitechurch Hardware get raised up in preparation for it to be moved to Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum). The building is located at 7685 Sixth Street. Bricks that were removed from the building's chimney are stacked next to the building. A building with sign "Tove's Beauty Corner" is visible across the street.
Photograph of the original chimney of the Whitechurch Hardware building located at 7685 Sixth Street. The building was being prepared to be moved by the Nickel Brothers house moving company to Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum).
Photograph of the original chimney of the Whitechurch Hardware building located at 7685 Sixth Street. The building was being prepared to be moved by the Nickel Brothers house moving company to Heritage Village (Burnaby Village Museum).
Photograph of the northern exterior of the Love farmhouse while Elsie (nee Love) Hughes, her husband John and son Brent lived in the house. The one storey section housed the kitchen which was added in 1903 to the original house which was built in 1893. The house is located at 7651 Cumberland Stree…
Copy print was made from re-photographing an original colour slide
Scope and Content
Photograph of the northern exterior of the Love farmhouse while Elsie (nee Love) Hughes, her husband John and son Brent lived in the house. The one storey section housed the kitchen which was added in 1903 to the original house which was built in 1893. The house is located at 7651 Cumberland Street (Address pre 1960: 1390 Cumberland Road) and was moved from its original site to the Burnaby Village Museum in 1988 and designated a Municipal Heritage Landmark in 1992.
Photograph of the exterior of the west side of the Love farnhouse while Elsie (nee Love) Hughes, her husband John and son Brent lived in the house.The one storey section housed the kitchen which was attached to the main house in 1903. The house was located at 7651 Cumberland Street (Address pre 196…
Copy print was made from re-photographing an original colour slide
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of the west side of the Love farnhouse while Elsie (nee Love) Hughes, her husband John and son Brent lived in the house.The one storey section housed the kitchen which was attached to the main house in 1903. The house was located at 7651 Cumberland Street (Address pre 1960: 1390 Cumberland Road) and was moved from its original site to the Burnaby Village Museum in 1988 and designated a Municipal Heritage Landmark in 1992.
Photograph of the exterior of the Love farmhouse taken from the corner of Fourteenth Avenue and Cumberland Street while Elsie (nee Love) Hughes, her husband John and son Brent lived in the house. The house was located at 7651 Cumberland Street (Address pre 1960: 1390 Cumberland Road) and was moved …
Copy print was made from re-photographing an original colour slide
Scope and Content
Photograph of the exterior of the Love farmhouse taken from the corner of Fourteenth Avenue and Cumberland Street while Elsie (nee Love) Hughes, her husband John and son Brent lived in the house. The house was located at 7651 Cumberland Street (Address pre 1960: 1390 Cumberland Road) and was moved from its original site to the Burnaby Village Museum in 1988 and designated a Municipal Heritage Landmark in 1992.