This portion of the interview is about Bill Copeland's childhood in Burnaby and Vancouver, his father's work as a miner, his war service, education, and his three children
This portion of the interview is about Bill Copeland's childhood in Burnaby and Vancouver, his father's work as a miner, his war service, education, and his three children
Date Range
1927-1990
Photo Info
Mayor Bill Copeland cutting the ribbon for the opening of the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts accompanied by Jack and Doris Shadbolt and Councillors Doug Drummond and Derek Corrigan, 1995. Item no. 535-0067
Recording is of an interview with former Burnaby Mayor William J. Copeland conducted by Rod Fowler. Bill Copeland 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 Bill Copeland’s education, career and experience as a Burnaby firefighter from 1955 to 1987, and his work for the union International Association of Fire Fighters. He talks about his early family life in Burnaby and Vancouver, war service, training with the Federal Fire Service, the organizations he has belonged to, and the careers of his three children. He briefly talks about Burnaby politics and his unexpected election to Mayor of Burnaby. Major themes of the interview, described by track: Track 1: Organizations - Unions; Public Services - Fire Protection; International Association of Fire Fighters; Track 2: Public Services - Fire Protection; Track 3: Elections; Track 4: family history and education; Track 5: Public Services - Fire Protection; Track 6: Elections
Biographical Notes
William John (Bill) Copeland (1927-2002) was born in Vancouver May 19, 1927. As a young child he lived with his parents on Southwood Street in South Burnaby on a chicken ranch. Bill’s father was a miner and was often away from home. The family moved to Pioneer Mines at Bridge River for a few years and then moved back to Vancouver in 1941 when his father contracted silicosis. Bill served in the navy for about a year near the end of WWII, was in the Canadian Merchant Marine and worked as a pipe fitter, before beginning his career as a fire fighter. He trained with the Federal Fire Service and worked two years at the Wireless Station in Delta. In 1955 he started work as Fire Fighter No. 53 in Burnaby, retiring 33 years later in 1987. Most of his career was spent at the Control Station or Number 1 Firehall, first located at Wiilingdon and Hastings (now No.5 Station) and later on Sperling near Canada Way. Bill worked as a first aid instructor, eventually moving into the training office, and retired as assistant chief. In 1987, shortly after retiring, Bill was asked to run for Mayor for the Burnaby Citizens Association (BCA). Much to his surprise he won. He served with distinction for three terms (1987-1996).
Bill, his wife Ruth, and their three children, Doug and Dan (both firefighters) and Emily (a teacher), lived in North Burnaby on Cliff Avenue, the family home for about 35 years. Bill was active in many organizations including the Cliff Avenue soccer organization, St. John Ambulance, Burnaby Red Cross, and CNIB, among others. He began representing firefighters locally in the International Association of Fire Fighters in the early 1960s, eventually becoming President of the provincial association and then Vice President of the 6th District representing Western Canada.
Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and business computerization 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.
Aerial photographic postcard of Barnet Lumber Company's Mill. The handwritten caption on the lower left corner of the postcard reads: "Aeroplane view of the Barnet Lumber Co. Ltd./ Barnet BC." The handwritten caption on the lower right corner reads: "Copyright 1927/ Pacific Airway Ltd./ Vancouver …
Aerial photographic postcard of Barnet Lumber Company's Mill. The handwritten caption on the lower left corner of the postcard reads: "Aeroplane view of the Barnet Lumber Co. Ltd./ Barnet BC." The handwritten caption on the lower right corner reads: "Copyright 1927/ Pacific Airway Ltd./ Vancouver B.C.".
Photograph of the village of Barnet at the mill. The caption stamped at the top of the card reads: "Barnet, B.C. from the Hill." The Barnet Mill was called the North Pacific Lumber Company from 1889 to 1914.
Photograph of the village of Barnet at the mill. The caption stamped at the top of the card reads: "Barnet, B.C. from the Hill." The Barnet Mill was called the North Pacific Lumber Company from 1889 to 1914.
Photograph of Barnet Mill, at one point the largest lumber mill in the British Empire. It closed in 1929. The Barnet Mill was called the North Pacific Lumber Company from 1889 to 1914.
Photograph of Barnet Mill, at one point the largest lumber mill in the British Empire. It closed in 1929. The Barnet Mill was called the North Pacific Lumber Company from 1889 to 1914.
1 photograph : sepia ; 9 x 12 cm on 12.5 x 15 cm backing
Scope and Content
Photograph of an unidentified man standing in the forefront with a jersey cow to the right, while a row of cabins and cleared tress can be seen in the background. A caption written above the photograph reads: "Boundary Road Lumber Mill owned by E.W. Nicholson." Underneath the photograph is writte…
1 photograph : sepia ; 9 x 12 cm on 12.5 x 15 cm backing
Description Level
Item
Record No.
375-024
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1986-42
Scope and Content
Photograph of an unidentified man standing in the forefront with a jersey cow to the right, while a row of cabins and cleared tress can be seen in the background. A caption written above the photograph reads: "Boundary Road Lumber Mill owned by E.W. Nicholson." Underneath the photograph is written: "The first Jersey cow on the farm." On the back of the photograph it is noted that the buildings in the background were workmen's buildings.
1 photograph : sepia ; 15.6 x 23.8 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
Scope and Content
Photograph of a team of oxen being used to clear land and haul logs on skid road. Five unidentified lumberjacks can be seen standing alongside the animals.
1 photograph : sepia ; 15.6 x 23.8 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
Description Level
Item
Record No.
477-843
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2007-12
Scope and Content
Photograph of a team of oxen being used to clear land and haul logs on skid road. Five unidentified lumberjacks can be seen standing alongside the animals.
Photograph of Frederick Thrussell in a three-piece suit and hat, standing in front of a large stump. A small dog stands in front of him, and a crosscut saw is to his left, propped up vertically against the stump. Peter Byrne stands on a spring board protruding from the stump, and holds on to the en…
Photograph of Frederick Thrussell in a three-piece suit and hat, standing in front of a large stump. A small dog stands in front of him, and a crosscut saw is to his left, propped up vertically against the stump. Peter Byrne stands on a spring board protruding from the stump, and holds on to the end of a second crosscut saw. On the other side of the stump, a man balances on a second spring board while holding on to the opposite end of the horizontal crosscut saw with this right hand. Peter Byrne went on to serve as a member of Council from 1894 to 1895 and from 1898 to 1906, and was Reeve of Burnaby from 1906 to 1910.
Photograph of Frederick Thrussell, unidentified, and Peter Byrne standing in front of a large fallen tree. A crosscut saw is propped up vertically against the end of the felled tree. Peter Byrne was Reeve of Burnaby from 1906 to 1910. Earlier, he also served as a member of Council from 1894 to 1895…
Photograph of Frederick Thrussell, unidentified, and Peter Byrne standing in front of a large fallen tree. A crosscut saw is propped up vertically against the end of the felled tree. Peter Byrne was Reeve of Burnaby from 1906 to 1910. Earlier, he also served as a member of Council from 1894 to 1895 and from 1898 to 1906.
Photograph of the Gilley Brothers logging operation. A donkey engine is visible on the right, and seven men are standing on a felled tree as it is pulled along the track by the power of the donkey engine.
Photograph of the Gilley Brothers logging operation. A donkey engine is visible on the right, and seven men are standing on a felled tree as it is pulled along the track by the power of the donkey engine.
A note on the back of item no. 379-001 (the copy print to this original reads: "Logging operation at Kingsway and Gilley Avenue carried on by Gilley Brothers before the turn of the century."
1 photograph : sepia ; 11.8 x 17 cm on 17.7 x 22.7 cm backing
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Nicholson lumber camp and mill in the Broadview area of Burnaby. Approximately 12 men and women can be seen standing in front of the cabins and piles of planks (all are unidentified).
1 photograph : sepia ; 11.8 x 17 cm on 17.7 x 22.7 cm backing
Description Level
Item
Record No.
375-029
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1986-42
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Nicholson lumber camp and mill in the Broadview area of Burnaby. Approximately 12 men and women can be seen standing in front of the cabins and piles of planks (all are unidentified).
1 photograph : b&w ; 7.2 x 12.3 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a man identified by the initials "A.J.B." seated on the step of a cabin, one of three that are visible in the picture. In front of the cabin can be seen a telescopic device on a tripod. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser Rive…
1 photograph : b&w ; 7.2 x 12.3 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
020-111
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS2007-04
Scope and Content
Photograph of a man identified by the initials "A.J.B." seated on the step of a cabin, one of three that are visible in the picture. In front of the cabin can be seen a telescopic device on a tripod. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the construction of the Trans-Provincial Highway during the later 1920s.
Photographic postcard of the men's quarters for those who worked at the North Pacific Lumber Company in Barnet, BC. Burrard Inlet is also depicted in the background of the image.
Photographic postcard of the men's quarters for those who worked at the North Pacific Lumber Company in Barnet, BC. Burrard Inlet is also depicted in the background of the image.