Photograph of the exterior of an unidentified building that may be a gym. There is a pathway in front of the bulding and two people at the entrance, mostly obscured by a tree.
Photograph of the exterior of an unidentified building that may be a gym. There is a pathway in front of the bulding and two people at the entrance, mostly obscured by a tree.
Photograph of the original backyard playhouse on the Champion family property (the windows on the playhouse are from an early Stanley Park beach house).
Photograph of the original backyard playhouse on the Champion family property (the windows on the playhouse are from an early Stanley Park beach house).
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 Parkcrest Plaza shopping centre at Sperling and Broadway. The photograph is taken from across the parking lot and lawn, facing west. Signs for the plaza's businesses include Fresh Foods and Bank of Nova Scotia, and homes and apartment buildings are in the distance.
Photograph of the Parkcrest Plaza shopping centre at Sperling and Broadway. The photograph is taken from across the parking lot and lawn, facing west. Signs for the plaza's businesses include Fresh Foods and Bank of Nova Scotia, and homes and apartment buildings are in the distance.
Photograph of the 3700 block of Hastings Street in North Burnaby, looking southeast. Kato Japanese Chinese Restaurant is one of the visible businesses and some snow is on the ground.
Photograph of the 3700 block of Hastings Street in North Burnaby, looking southeast. Kato Japanese Chinese Restaurant is one of the visible businesses and some snow is on the ground.
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey house located at 7530 Buller Avenue. The photograph depicts the house at dusk; the house stands behind a wooden fence and is surrounded by trees. The house was constructed in 1924 and was formerly known as "Ryverbrae," the William & Esther Burdick Residenc…
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey house located at 7530 Buller Avenue. The photograph depicts the house at dusk; the house stands behind a wooden fence and is surrounded by trees. The house was constructed in 1924 and was formerly known as "Ryverbrae," the William & Esther Burdick Residence.
Photographs of the commercial properties located between 7641 and 7651 Royal Oak Avenue. Stores visible in the photographs include: Buy Low Foods, Mega Movies, and Chevron service station.
Photographs of the commercial properties located between 7641 and 7651 Royal Oak Avenue. Stores visible in the photographs include: Buy Low Foods, Mega Movies, and Chevron service station.
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 "Normanna," the Brookes family residence. This new Brookes family home was built in 1927 on the same site as the original house at 441 12th Avenue (later renumbered 7979 12th Avenue). Eventually, this became Normanna Norwegian rest home. The original house was built by Burnaby's firs…
Photograph of "Normanna," the Brookes family residence. This new Brookes family home was built in 1927 on the same site as the original house at 441 12th Avenue (later renumbered 7979 12th Avenue). Eventually, this became Normanna Norwegian rest home. The original house was built by Burnaby's first Reeve, Charles Shaw, and is now a designated heritage site at 7725 4th Street.
Photograph of the view of the mountains and park from a hill on Burnaby Mountain Park. The photograph is taken facing north. The photograph shows the parking lot and the Burnaby Mountain Centennial Pavilion.
Photograph of the view of the mountains and park from a hill on Burnaby Mountain Park. The photograph is taken facing north. The photograph shows the parking lot and the Burnaby Mountain Centennial Pavilion.
Photograph of the Burnaby Centennial Pavilion in Burnaby Mountain Park. The pavilion was built in 1958 for the British Columbia Centenary and became Horizons Restaurant in 1986 and may have housed The Owl and the Oarsman Restaurant at this time. Two individuals are standing on the deck and looking …
Photograph of the Burnaby Centennial Pavilion in Burnaby Mountain Park. The pavilion was built in 1958 for the British Columbia Centenary and became Horizons Restaurant in 1986 and may have housed The Owl and the Oarsman Restaurant at this time. Two individuals are standing on the deck and looking toward the mountains. The photograph is taken from across the lawn, facing north of northwest.
Photograph of a commercial mid-rise building at Patterson Avenue and Kingsway, near Central Park. A Shell gas station is next to the building and a Bank of Nova Scotia occupies the first floor. The photograph is taken from Patterson, facing east on Kingsway. Pedestrians are crossing at the intersec…
Photograph of a commercial mid-rise building at Patterson Avenue and Kingsway, near Central Park. A Shell gas station is next to the building and a Bank of Nova Scotia occupies the first floor. The photograph is taken from Patterson, facing east on Kingsway. Pedestrians are crossing at the intersection.
Photograph of the exterior of the James Cowan Centre (now the James Cowan Theatre at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts) and the nearby parking lot and gardens. The photograph is taken looking down from a high point, facing east.
Photograph of the exterior of the James Cowan Centre (now the James Cowan Theatre at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts) and the nearby parking lot and gardens. The photograph is taken looking down from a high point, facing east.
File contains photographs of Ronaye Mathew at Cranberry Commons, a cohousing development in North Burnaby that received an Environment Award from the City of Burnaby. Photographs depict Mathew in the development's courtyard and posing in the communal kitchen.
File contains photographs of Ronaye Mathew at Cranberry Commons, a cohousing development in North Burnaby that received an Environment Award from the City of Burnaby. Photographs depict Mathew in the development's courtyard and posing in the communal kitchen.
Collected by editorial for use in a June 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata for 535-2517-1: "Ronaye Mathew relaxes in the central courtyard at Cranberry Commons, a cohousing development in North Burnaby that's been honoured by the city with an Environment Award."
Caption from metadata for 535-2517-2: "Ronaye Mathew enjoys a rare moment of peace in the communal kitchen at Cranberry Commons, a cohousing development in North Burnaby. At least three times a week, the kitchen is crowded for communal dinners. The development has been honored by the City with an Environment Award."
Photograph looking over Deer Lake and snow-covered ground towards buildings and houses. To the left is the cottage and house belonging to the Woodward sisters, Harriet and Maude. The cottage, and later the house, were also used as the Burnaby Lake Post Office and a school run by Harriet Woodward. …
Photograph looking over Deer Lake and snow-covered ground towards buildings and houses. To the left is the cottage and house belonging to the Woodward sisters, Harriet and Maude. The cottage, and later the house, were also used as the Burnaby Lake Post Office and a school run by Harriet Woodward. At the time of this photograph, it was in use as the Burnaby Lake United Church. In the middle of the picture, numerous boathouses and a diving tower can be seen at the shoreline of the lake. To the right of the copse of trees, on the hill, is the house and post office belonging to the Woodward sisters and right of that is the home built for William J. Walker in 1907 but owned by D.R. Boucher during the 1920s. To the far right the Pole Line Road (later, Sperling Avenue) is visible along with the home of Francis J. Peers, known as Greyfriars.
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.
Photograph of high-rises apartment buildings and the neighbourhood along Kingsway by Central Park. The photograph is taken from a high point, facing east down Kingsway. The Central Park Veterinary Hospital, Central Park Place, a railway crossing, a gas station, and the Central Park Gate are visible…
Photograph of high-rises apartment buildings and the neighbourhood along Kingsway by Central Park. The photograph is taken from a high point, facing east down Kingsway. The Central Park Veterinary Hospital, Central Park Place, a railway crossing, a gas station, and the Central Park Gate are visible in the photograph.