This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the importance of good record keeping, using an example of an 1936 fire record used in a civic law suit. He expressed concerned about the lack of museum and archives facilities in Burnaby.
This portion of the interview is about Al Nixon describing the importance of good record keeping, using an example of an 1936 fire record used in a civic law suit. He expressed concerned about the lack of museum and archives facilities in Burnaby.
Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon 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 the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
Biographical Notes
Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
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.
Title transcribed from inside cover of photo album
Photographs were originally contained in a photograph album and removed by Archives staff for preservation purposes. Original order of photographs within the album is maintained.
Most photographs in file have note on verso identifying individuals depicted
Photograph of Dr. Garnett Reynolds, of the Pacific Coast Association of Port Authorities, and Mildred Reynolds speaking with Steve Alderson, the carousel operator at the Burnaby Village Museum. Alderson is dressed in a period costume and is standing on the inside of the barrier around the old carou…
Photograph of Dr. Garnett Reynolds, of the Pacific Coast Association of Port Authorities, and Mildred Reynolds speaking with Steve Alderson, the carousel operator at the Burnaby Village Museum. Alderson is dressed in a period costume and is standing on the inside of the barrier around the old carousel, and some of the carousel horses are visible in the background.
Collected by editorial for use in a September 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Dr. Garnett Reynolds, of Port Alberni, and his wife, Mildred, admire the pins worn by Burnaby Village Museum's carousel operator, Steve Alderson. Reynolds is a life member of the Pacific Coast Association of Port Authorities, and he was on a tour of the museum with a group of port administrators from around the world."
File contains photographs of the Burnaby Village Museum's Fall Fair. Photographs depict four-year-old Jeffrey Dykstra during the watermelon eating contest and 12-year-old David Marino stuffing a scarecrow during another competition.
File contains photographs of the Burnaby Village Museum's Fall Fair. Photographs depict four-year-old Jeffrey Dykstra during the watermelon eating contest and 12-year-old David Marino stuffing a scarecrow during another competition.
Collected by editorial for use in a September 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata for 535-2763-1: "Jeffrey Dykstra, 4, digs into a slice of watermelon, at the watermelon eating contest at Burnaby Village Museum's annual Fall Fair on Saturday. Other events at the traditional fair included a scarecrow building contest, tests of strength, a palm reader and a chance to "milk a cow.""
Caption from metadata for 535-2763-2: "David Marino, 12, stuffs his scarecrow at a scarecrow building competition, one of the traditional Fall Fair events at Burnaby Village Museum's closing weekend celebration."
File contains photographs of the Fall Fair at the Burnaby Village Museum. Photographs depict square dancers performing in front of the Museum's church; Amanda King in period costume and seated beneath a parasol; and a young child viewing two chicks in the petting zoo.
File contains photographs of the Fall Fair at the Burnaby Village Museum. Photographs depict square dancers performing in front of the Museum's church; Amanda King in period costume and seated beneath a parasol; and a young child viewing two chicks in the petting zoo.
Collected by editorial for use in a September 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Tony Guerriero, a groundsman at Burnaby Village Museum, checks the progress of the Atlantic Dill pumpkins, as the Museum gets ready for its second annual Fall Fair, Sept. 16."
Photograph of Alodia Mulingtapang shining a Model "A" car that is part of an exhibition at Burnaby Village Museum, before its opening for the season. One of the Museum's streets and its businesses, including the Ice Cream Parlour, are visible in the background.
Photograph of Alodia Mulingtapang shining a Model "A" car that is part of an exhibition at Burnaby Village Museum, before its opening for the season. One of the Museum's streets and its businesses, including the Ice Cream Parlour, are visible in the background.
Collected by editorial for use in a May 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Alodia Mulingtapang shines up the old Model "A" at Burnaby Village Museum, as the Museum prepares to open for the season this weekend."
File consists of photographs of the Burnaby Centennial Park Carousel grand opening on March 27, 1993 at the Burnaby Village Museum. Individuals depicted riding the carousel include City Councillor Derek Corrigan, City Manager Bob Moncur, and City staff member Denis Nokony.
File consists of photographs of the Burnaby Centennial Park Carousel grand opening on March 27, 1993 at the Burnaby Village Museum. Individuals depicted riding the carousel include City Councillor Derek Corrigan, City Manager Bob Moncur, and City staff member Denis Nokony.
Photograph of a young child riding the carousel at Burnaby Village Museum during the Burnaby Multicultural Festival. The child's parent stands next to them and the lights of the carousel blur in the background.
Photograph of a young child riding the carousel at Burnaby Village Museum during the Burnaby Multicultural Festival. The child's parent stands next to them and the lights of the carousel blur in the background.
Collected by editorial for use in an August 2003 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Kate Wong, 3, enjoys a ride on the indoor carousal Saturday afternoon at Burnaby Village Museum while taking in the Burnaby Multicultural Fest."
Collected by editorial for use in a March 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Ling Chung and her son, Kevin, 4, create origami at a workshop at the Children's Mini-fest, at the National Nikkei Heritage Centre in Burnaby on Saturday."
Photograph of Colin Stevens, the curator of the Burnaby Village Museum, and Andrew Todd, a conservator, talking while standing next to the Interurban tram 1223 that is undergoing restoration work. The streetcar is draped in plastic sheets.
Photograph of Colin Stevens, the curator of the Burnaby Village Museum, and Andrew Todd, a conservator, talking while standing next to the Interurban tram 1223 that is undergoing restoration work. The streetcar is draped in plastic sheets.
Collected by editorial for use in a September 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Colin Stevens, the curator of the Burnaby Village Museum, and Andrew Todd, a conservator who's consulting on the move and restoration of the old Interurban streetcar, discuss the plans for the move, which is set to take place next week."
Photograph of Crystal Yawney, a grade 12 student, holding up an origami doll at a Japanese cultural day program at the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.
Photograph of Crystal Yawney, a grade 12 student, holding up an origami doll at a Japanese cultural day program at the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.
Collected by editorial for use in an April 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Crystal Yawney, a Grade 12 student at Terry Fox Secondary School in Port Coquitlam, checks her handiwork on an origami doll she made at a Japanese cultural day at the Nikkei Heritage Centre in Burnaby. Students also learned how to make sushi and got an introduction to the Japanese language. The cultural day is a pilot program at the Centre to introduce students to Japanese culture."
Photograph of two unidentified children participating in the Easter Bonnet parade at Burnaby Village Museum. They are wearing hats made of paper plates and other craft materials and hold hard candy.
Photograph of two unidentified children participating in the Easter Bonnet parade at Burnaby Village Museum. They are wearing hats made of paper plates and other craft materials and hold hard candy.
Collected by editorial for use in a January 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Donna Livingstone, of the Fraser River Discovery Centre, shines up the glass partitions as the Centre prepares to open its preview centre on Saturday."
Collected by editorial for use in a January 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Bhaneeta Chadha, 4, gets a little advice on the intricacies of panning for gold from volunteer Catherine Jones, at the opening of the Fraser River Discovery Centre's preview display."
Photograph of Nick Suyoshi tending to a Japanese cut leaf maple tree in the Japanese Canadian garden in front of the newly-built Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.
Photograph of Nick Suyoshi tending to a Japanese cut leaf maple tree in the Japanese Canadian garden in front of the newly-built Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.
Collected by editorial for use in a March 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Nick Suyoshi tends a Japanese cut leaf maple tree in the Japanese garden being built in front of the new Japanese Cultural Centre. The garden, which will feature a waterfall, is being built mostly by volunteers, using trees and shrubs donated by the Japanese community."