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.
1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
Scope and Content
Photograph of Harriet Woodward and her class of students outside the Woodward home near Deer Lake which served as the first school and post office in the Burnaby Lake area; (l to r): Harriet Woodward (Miss Harry), Bob Peers, Melvin Mawhinney, Muriel Sprott, Kitty Hill, Beatrice Clayton and Arthur P…
1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 17 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
Description Level
Item
Record No.
477-868
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2007-12
Scope and Content
Photograph of Harriet Woodward and her class of students outside the Woodward home near Deer Lake which served as the first school and post office in the Burnaby Lake area; (l to r): Harriet Woodward (Miss Harry), Bob Peers, Melvin Mawhinney, Muriel Sprott, Kitty Hill, Beatrice Clayton and Arthur Peers. The cottage was a prefabricated building designed by J.J. Mahoney and architect Joseph Bowman and was manufactured in Vancouver by the B.C. Mills Timber and Trading Company and erected here is 1904. The cottage was enlarged with several additions until 1912 when the Woodwards built a new house.
1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7.5 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
Scope and Content
Photograph of an unidentified person sitting on the porch of the Maude and Harriet Woodward cottage. This house was a prefabricated cottage erected in 1904. The cottages were designed by J.J. Mahoney and architect Joseph Bowman and were manufactured in Vancouver by the B.C. Mills Timber and Tradi…
1 photograph : b&w ; 5 x 7.5 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
Description Level
Item
Record No.
477-890
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2007-12
Scope and Content
Photograph of an unidentified person sitting on the porch of the Maude and Harriet Woodward cottage. This house was a prefabricated cottage erected in 1904. The cottages were designed by J.J. Mahoney and architect Joseph Bowman and were manufactured in Vancouver by the B.C. Mills Timber and Trading Company. Maude Woodward established a post-office here which was operated by her sister, Harriet. Harriet also began a small private school here, the first in Burnaby Lake. The cottage was enlarged with several additions until 1912 when the Woodwards built a new house.
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.
1 photograph : sepia ; 6 x 10.5 cm on page 14 x 17.5 cm (pasted in album)
Scope and Content
Photograph of the home belonging to Maude and Harriet Woodward, early residents of the Burnaby Lake area. The cottage was a prefabricated building designed by J.J. Mahoney and architect Joseph Bowman and was manufactured in Vancouver by the B.C. Mills Timber and Trading Company and erected here in …
1 photograph : sepia ; 6 x 10.5 cm on page 14 x 17.5 cm (pasted in album)
Description Level
Item
Record No.
477-190
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2007-12
Scope and Content
Photograph of the home belonging to Maude and Harriet Woodward, early residents of the Burnaby Lake area. The cottage was a prefabricated building designed by J.J. Mahoney and architect Joseph Bowman and was manufactured in Vancouver by the B.C. Mills Timber and Trading Company and erected here in 1904. Maude Woodward established a post-office here which was operated by her sister, Harriet. Harriet also began a small private school here, the first in Burnaby Lake. The cottage was enlarged with several additions until 1912 when the Woodwards built a new house.
1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6.2 cm on page 14 x 17.5 cm (pasted in album)
Scope and Content
Photograph of the home of Maude Woodward and her sister Harriet Woodward. A caption beneath the photograph reads: "Burnaby Lake Post Office and School 1910-1934."
1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6.2 cm on page 14 x 17.5 cm (pasted in album)
Description Level
Item
Record No.
477-191
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2007-12
Scope and Content
Photograph of the home of Maude Woodward and her sister Harriet Woodward. A caption beneath the photograph reads: "Burnaby Lake Post Office and School 1910-1934."
Photograph of 7820 Barnet Road including the Barnet School and adjoining teacher's residence. Dr. Carl Eaton once taught there (this photograph was taken by him). Burnaby Mountain is visible in the background.
Photograph of 7820 Barnet Road including the Barnet School and adjoining teacher's residence. Dr. Carl Eaton once taught there (this photograph was taken by him). Burnaby Mountain is visible in the background.
Photograph of the Bonsor Hall (formerly the Kingsway West School). A note on the back of the photograph reads: "The Old Bonsor Hall - Formerly Kingsway W. School as in Burnaby Courier." The photograph was taken by the Burnaby Courier newspaper ca. 1958.
Photograph of the Bonsor Hall (formerly the Kingsway West School). A note on the back of the photograph reads: "The Old Bonsor Hall - Formerly Kingsway W. School as in Burnaby Courier." The photograph was taken by the Burnaby Courier newspaper ca. 1958.
Photographs in this collection were taken and compiled by Norah Code, former editor of the "Burnaby Courier" newspaper during the course of her work for the newspaper.
Photograph of a Burnaby North High School class in front of Vancouver Heights Presbyterian Church. High school classes were held in the church hall temporarily. Identified: Mary Clark (2nd row, 4th from left).
Photograph of a Burnaby North High School class in front of Vancouver Heights Presbyterian Church. High school classes were held in the church hall temporarily. Identified: Mary Clark (2nd row, 4th from left).
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".
Photographs in this collection were taken and compiled by Norah Code, former editor of the "Burnaby Courier" newspaper during the course of her work for the newspaper.
Photograph of the Parliament family home, the famous landmark "half-house" on the 5770 block of Hastings Street, Capitol Hill. The photograph was taken looking north to Capitol Hill and Capitol Hill School is visible at the left.
Photograph of the Parliament family home, the famous landmark "half-house" on the 5770 block of Hastings Street, Capitol Hill. The photograph was taken looking north to Capitol Hill and Capitol Hill School is visible at the left.
Photograph of Riverway East (renamed Dundonald) School and Dundonald Untied Church taken from River Road (now Marine Drive). A large pile of cordwood is visible alongside the school.
Photograph of Riverway East (renamed Dundonald) School and Dundonald Untied Church taken from River Road (now Marine Drive). A large pile of cordwood is visible alongside the school.
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.6 x 4.4 cm print on contact sheet 20.6 x 26.8 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the interior of a school room at Oakalla Prison Farm. Men are seated at desks, and a student and teacher are at the blackboard standing beside a map. A list of words is on the blackboard.
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.6 x 4.4 cm print on contact sheet 20.6 x 26.8 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-733
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the interior of a school room at Oakalla Prison Farm. Men are seated at desks, and a student and teacher are at the blackboard standing beside a map. A list of words is on the blackboard.