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 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 Eric Emery, the project manager of a Simon Fraser University development project, standing over a 3D model of the proposal. Maps and other photographs related to the proposal are visible in the background.
Photograph of Eric Emery, the project manager of a Simon Fraser University development project, standing over a 3D model of the proposal. Maps and other photographs related to the proposal are visible in the background.
Collected by editorial for use in a September 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "The newly-rebuilt running track at Terry Fox Field at Simon Fraser University finally earns its stripes as a worker paints the lane markers."
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.3 x 4.1 cm print on contact sheet 20.5 x 26.8 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the construction of the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Academic Quadrangle building, phase two. Information at lower right corner of photograph reads, "Academic Quadrangle Building / Phase Two / Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC / Z.S. Kiss - Architect / Laing Construction & Equipme…
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.3 x 4.1 cm print on contact sheet 20.5 x 26.8 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-802
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the construction of the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Academic Quadrangle building, phase two. Information at lower right corner of photograph reads, "Academic Quadrangle Building / Phase Two / Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC / Z.S. Kiss - Architect / Laing Construction & Equipment Ltd, General Contractors / No14 Date Aug 5, 1966, Facing E."
Handwritten notes on slide read: "SFU" and "May 23, 1993 Image #05812"; stamp on slide reads "Copyright Airphoto 85 All Rights Reserved (604) 946-6181."
Photograph of Agatha Van de Starre, a member of the Burnaby Speed Skating Club, posing with a pair of skates next to the sign for Simon Fraser University on Burnaby Mountain.
Photograph of Agatha Van de Starre, a member of the Burnaby Speed Skating Club, posing with a pair of skates next to the sign for Simon Fraser University on Burnaby Mountain.
Collected by editorial for use in a December 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Agatha Van de Starre, of the Burnaby Speedskating Club, looks forward to the possibility that Simon Fraser University could be the home for a new Olympic speedskating oval, as part of the Vancouver/Whistler bid for the 2010 Winter Games."
Photograph of Joel Bakan, Governor General Gold Medal Winner and Rhodes Scholar for BC, sitting on the steps in front of Convocation Mall at Simon Fraser University.
Photograph of Joel Bakan, Governor General Gold Medal Winner and Rhodes Scholar for BC, sitting on the steps in front of Convocation Mall at Simon Fraser University.
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 Jen Bacus, a radio broadcast student and staff at the new BCIT campus radio station CFML, standing inside a recording booth next to a light that reads "On Air."
Photograph of Jen Bacus, a radio broadcast student and staff at the new BCIT campus radio station CFML, standing inside a recording booth next to a light that reads "On Air."
Collected by editorial for use in a January 2004 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "BCIT's campus radio station, CFML, is about to go on the air, over the air, as the station has been approved for an FM license by the CRTC. Once the station has secured space on a broadcast tower, it will be able to be heard all over Burnaby, New Westminster, parts of Vancouver and Coquitlam. Jen Bacus is a radio broadcast student, and the station's marketing and promotions director."
Photograph of an unidentified striking person standing under a BCIT umbrella during a demonstration. The person is wearing a sign that reads: "BCIT Faculty & Staff Association / On Strike for Quality in Education."
Photograph of an unidentified striking person standing under a BCIT umbrella during a demonstration. The person is wearing a sign that reads: "BCIT Faculty & Staff Association / On Strike for Quality in Education."
Collected by editorial for use in a January 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Ljubisav Stamenic, of BCIT, checks out the solar photovoltaic cells in the attic of the school's solar energy demonstration house. The solar energy is converted into electricity which is then fed back into the power grid connected to the house."
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 student Trina La Berge and instructor Jerry Cannon posing next to a row of desktop computers displaying images of scans in BCIT's radiation therapy lab.
Photograph of student Trina La Berge and instructor Jerry Cannon posing next to a row of desktop computers displaying images of scans in BCIT's radiation therapy lab.
Photograph of a student at the Pacific Vocational Institute, standing in front of a microphone and about to address Lloyd Axworthy. The photograph is taken over Axworthy's shoulder. Axworthy was a Liberal MP from Winnipeg who served as Minister of Employment and Immigration.
Photograph of a student at the Pacific Vocational Institute, standing in front of a microphone and about to address Lloyd Axworthy. The photograph is taken over Axworthy's shoulder. Axworthy was a Liberal MP from Winnipeg who served as Minister of Employment and Immigration.