Item consists of a recording of part one in a series of three “Back to the Roots” podcasts about the history of Chinese-Canadian farming in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Part one is titled “A Family Farm”. The podcasts were created by students Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong from the Faculty of Land an…
Podcasts hosts: Rose Wu; Wei Yan Yeong
Persons from recorded extracts: Denise Fong; Josephine Chow
Music: prod. riddiman
Podcast Date: October 2020
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 00:13:57 min
Photograph info: Store front of Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co in Victoria, B.C., 1975. BV017.7.191
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of part one in a series of three “Back to the Roots” podcasts about the history of Chinese-Canadian farming in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Part one is titled “A Family Farm”. The podcasts were created by students Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia Faculty and while student interns at Burnaby Village Museum. In this series the students connect their knowledge of food systems to their shared Chinese heritage in order to discover how Chinese Canadian history is rooted in their local food systems.
00:00-02:21
The podcast opens with Wei Yan Yeong and Rose Wu introducing themselves and their topic- the Chinese Canadian experience in Burnaby and the people who have made important contributions to the city’s development. “A Family Farm” talks about Chinese-owned businesses which are family run.
“The family-oriented nature of Chinese-owned businesses also extend to many of the early (and current) Chinese-owned farms in the Burnaby Big Bend area. When Chinese men first began farming in BC in the 1860s, a lot of them worked as labourers because they weren’t allowed to own land. After World War II many of these farmers were allowed to purchase lots, thanks to the Veterans Land Grant. These grants allowed returning veterans to purchase small parcels of land with government loans. Eventually, these men would start families on the farm, and many Chinese-owned farms became family-operated businesses where every member, male, female, child, and extended relatives were enlisted to work the grounds. And it was hard work, often from dawn to dusk, 6-7 days a week.”
02:23 – 07:50
This portion includes excerpts from Oral History interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) of Hop On Farms in the Burnaby Big Bend area. The interview was conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong. Josephine recalls growing up on the family farm with her six siblings. She tells of how the family pulled together money to purchase twelve acres along Marine Drive in 1951, her family’s background, daily life on the farm , responsibilities on the farm for her and her siblings and of how her mother had to balance working on the farm and providing for a family of ten to twelve people.
07:51 – 08:10
In this portion, hosts comment and reflect on their own experiences. “While it’s likely that a lot of this was done out of necessity and not being able to afford additional paid labourers, having grown up in Chinese households ourselves, we can definitely understand the rationale for these family-operated businesses and how it connects back to the Chinese understanding of family and kinship.”
08:11 – 09:06
In this portion, Rose and Wei provide information on the roots of the Chinese character for family “jia” in mandarin or “gah” in Cantonese. They explain that the term family is composed of two parts: the upper element is like a roof, symbolizing shelter, and the bottom part represents a pig which symbolizes food, whereby the Chinese character for family represents that of a farm.
They provide a quote from the writings of Francois de Martin-Donos “In ancient China, the farm is an enterprise, a shelter that insures one food and work. The farm is a place to rely on, but in return, needs to be maintained, including a set of responsibilities. In other words, “family” is the insurance of a stable life.”
09:07 – 10:27
In this portion, the hosts speak about how traditional Chinese thought is heavily influenced by the teachings of Confucius and Confucius philosophy. They explain how Confucius emphasized five sets of human relationships that form the basis for society: ruler and minister, husband and wife, parents and child, sibling and sibling, friend and friend. Of these five, three are familial relationships also known as Filial piety – the respect and care for one’s familial superiors (such as parents, elders, and ancestors). They speak of how this is one of Confucianism’s main teachings and in this respect caring for family members is seen as a moral obligation. In China housing arrangements are in the form of siheyuan”s — a type of residence that featured a courtyard surrounded on all four sides with buildings. These traditionally housed one large extended family if they were wealthy enough.
10:28 – 13:08
In this portion, hosts provide further information on Josephine Chow’s family experience working and living on the “Hop On” family farm through the decades. An excerpt from the interview with Josephine Chow conducted by Denise Fong is included. In this excerpt, Josephine reflects on her past experiences on the farm and her present day experiences of her siblings running the farm.
13:09 -13:56
Final summary, credits and acknowledgements.
History
Podcast hosts, Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong are University of British Columbia students in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and student interns at Burnaby Village Museum.
See also Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020 - BV020.6.1
Compilation of Research Resources used by authors Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong include:
Why is family important in China?
https://medium.com/@francois_dmd/why-is-family-so-important-in-china-1617b13a67
Burnaby Village Museum - Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong Feb. 7, 2020. BV020.6.1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/permalink/museumsoundrecording12337
Covered Roots: The History of Vancouver's Chinese Farms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4WHS2Uf3JU
Burnaby Village Museum Shares Chinese-Canadian Farming History This Summer https://westcoastfood.ca/burnaby-village-museum-shares-chinese-canadian-farming-history-this-summer/
Chinese Market Gardeners in the City of Burnaby BC Continue to Practice Urban Agriculture https://cityfarmer.info/chinese-market-gardeners-in-the-city-of-burnaby-bc-continue-to-practice-urban-agriculture/
Chinese Market Gardening in BC https://www.bcfoodhistory.ca/chinese-market-gardening-bc/
4 sound recordings (mp3) + 1 video recording (mp4)
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of a three episode podcast series "Back to the Roots" and two research interviews conducted using the video communication platform, "Zoom".
The three podcasts which delve into the topics of Chinese family operated businesses, Chinese contributions to early local and alternative …
4 sound recordings (mp3) + 1 video recording (mp4)
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of a three episode podcast series "Back to the Roots" and two research interviews conducted using the video communication platform, "Zoom".
The three podcasts which delve into the topics of Chinese family operated businesses, Chinese contributions to early local and alternative food systems, and Traditional Chinese Medicine and herbalism. The three podcasts are titled "A Family Farm"; "Where is your food from?" and "Chinese Herbalist Shops & TCM". The podcasts were created by students Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong from the Facutly of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia Faculty and while student interns at Burnaby Village Museum.
The two interviews were conducted by students Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong from the Facutly of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia, while student interns at Burnaby Village Museum. The recorded interviews include Dr. John Yang (doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Denise Fong (Burnaby Village Museum's Chinese-Canadian History researcher, co curator of the Accross the Pacific exhibit and UBC PHD candidate). The interviews were conducted as part of Rose and Wei Yan's research in support of a three episode podcast series "Back to the Roots" which delves into the topics of Chinese family operated businesses, Chinese contributions to early local and alternative food systems, and Traditional Chinese Medicine and herbalism.
Interviews were originally recorded as mp4 videos on zoom. One of the interviews is made available for public access on Heritage Burnaby as an mp3 sound recording. Contact the Burnaby Village Museum to access the recording of the other interview.
Photograph is a portrait of early Burnaby residents and businessmen, identified as: Standing (l to r) - Louis Claude Hill, Nicolai Schou, Bernard Hill. Seated (l to r) - Unknown, Mr. Sharpe, Elliot Bell and unidentified man seated in the front.
Photograph is a portrait of early Burnaby residents and businessmen, identified as: Standing (l to r) - Louis Claude Hill, Nicolai Schou, Bernard Hill. Seated (l to r) - Unknown, Mr. Sharpe, Elliot Bell and unidentified man seated in the front.
Class photograph of students who finished a business course at the Sales Training Institute in Vancouver. The photo is taken at the Bayshore Inn by Hannay's Portrait Studio. Jimmy Chow is identified standing on the far left in the second row. Six students in the front row are holding trophies.
Class photograph of students who finished a business course at the Sales Training Institute in Vancouver. The photo is taken at the Bayshore Inn by Hannay's Portrait Studio. Jimmy Chow is identified standing on the far left in the second row. Six students in the front row are holding trophies.
1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 23.5 cm (sight) in mat 30.5 x 35.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of members of the Canada Victory Bonds organization Chinese branch in Victoria, B.C., seated and standing together in two rows. The photograph was taken on June 1, 1941 in the hall of the Chee Kung Tong Chinese Freemasons building. Lum Chuck Yue, a proprietor of the Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee…
1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 23.5 cm (sight) in mat 30.5 x 35.5 cm
Material Details
Chinese characters have been added to recto of mat
Scope and Content
Photograph of members of the Canada Victory Bonds organization Chinese branch in Victoria, B.C., seated and standing together in two rows. The photograph was taken on June 1, 1941 in the hall of the Chee Kung Tong Chinese Freemasons building. Lum Chuck Yue, a proprietor of the Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. Chinese herbalist shop in Victoria, served as the committee secretary and is identified as sitting in the front row, first from the right.
Photograph of Cecil and Julie Lee's extended family posing for studio portait; top row (L-R): Cecil (Chue Kan) Lee, Julie Cho Chan Lee; middle row (L-R): Rodney Lee holding Ethan and Tyler Lee, Darin Lee, Sandra Lee holding baby Aiden Lee; bottom row: Suey Ying Jung (Laura).
Photograph of Cecil and Julie Lee's extended family posing for studio portait; top row (L-R): Cecil (Chue Kan) Lee, Julie Cho Chan Lee; middle row (L-R): Rodney Lee holding Ethan and Tyler Lee, Darin Lee, Sandra Lee holding baby Aiden Lee; bottom row: Suey Ying Jung (Laura).
Photograph of Cecil (Chue Kan) Lee (far right) and his two brothers, Dick (Chue Duck) Lee (far left) and Ken (Chue Kwong) Lee (middle) outside of the Duke of Connaught High School in New Westminster. The three brothers are seen squating together in grassy area with the school building behind them.
Photograph of Cecil (Chue Kan) Lee (far right) and his two brothers, Dick (Chue Duck) Lee (far left) and Ken (Chue Kwong) Lee (middle) outside of the Duke of Connaught High School in New Westminster. The three brothers are seen squating together in grassy area with the school building behind them.
History
Photographs from the collection of Julie Lee. Julie married Cecil Lee (Chue Kan), the youngest of the Lee family.
Item consists of a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship issued to Quon Lip Lee on October 6, 1966. The back of the certificate includes vitial information including date of birth, marital status and date of issue.
Item consists of a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship issued to Quon Lip Lee on October 6, 1966. The back of the certificate includes vitial information including date of birth, marital status and date of issue.
Photograph of Suey Ying Jung (Laura) (seated right) and Puy Yuen Chan (seated left) posing with their two daughters: June Ling Chan (L) and Julie Cho Chan Lee (R).
Photograph of Suey Ying Jung (Laura) (seated right) and Puy Yuen Chan (seated left) posing with their two daughters: June Ling Chan (L) and Julie Cho Chan Lee (R).
Photograph of Chan Kow Hong standing in a field, harvesting cauliflower at Hop-On Farm. Chan Kow Hong is wearing a beige cap and a white T-shirt. White greenhouse and trees in background.
Photograph of Chan Kow Hong standing in a field, harvesting cauliflower at Hop-On Farm. Chan Kow Hong is wearing a beige cap and a white T-shirt. White greenhouse and trees in background.
History
Josephine Hong was born to Sui Ha Hong and Chan Kow Hong. The Hong Family had seven children, oldest to youngest: Pauline, Josephine, Catherine, Norine, Gary, Darlene, and Marlene.
The family runs Hop-On Farm on Marine Drive in Burnaby. Many Hong family members worked on the farm including Josephine Hong's grandfather, Gay Tim Hong, and uncles. Her great-grandfather was Sui Wing Hong
Photograph of Chan Kow Hong seated, posing in front of a house. House and fence evident in background.
History
Josephine Hong was born to Sui Ha Hong and Chan Kow Hong. The Hong Family had seven children, oldest to youngest: Pauline, Josephine, Catherine, Norine, Gary, Darlene, and Marlene.
The family runs Hop-On Farm on Marine Drive in Burnaby. Many Hong family members worked on the farm including Josephine Hong's grandfather, Gay Tim Hong, and uncles. Her great-grandfather was Sui Wing Hong
Photograph of Chan Kow Hong wearing a cap and farm boots, standing with tray of seedlings for planting at Hop-On Farm. Farm buildings evident in background.
Photograph of Chan Kow Hong wearing a cap and farm boots, standing with tray of seedlings for planting at Hop-On Farm. Farm buildings evident in background.
History
Seedlings were often sprouted in greenhouse in a "starter box" (wooden box with glass over top) before being transferred to field.
Josephine Hong was born to Sui Ha Hong and Chan Kow Hong. The Hong Family had seven children, oldest to youngest: Pauline, Josephine, Catherine, Norine, Gary, Darlene, and Marlene.
The family runs Hop-On Farm on Marine Drive in Burnaby. Many Hong family members worked on the farm including Josephine Hong's grandfather, Gay Tim Hong, and uncles. Her great-grandfather was Sui Wing Hong
1 photograph : b&w ; hand-coloured ; 16.5 cm x 11.5 cm
Scope and Content
Studio portrait of an unidentified toddler-age child of Chinese descent. The child is wearing a yellow, collared, two-piece pant suit and brown, closed-toe shoes. The child is seated on a red and white tricycle in front of a green riser and sky blue backdrop. The flooring has a gray and white patte…
1 photograph : b&w ; hand-coloured ; 16.5 cm x 11.5 cm
Material Details
On the front lower right corner of the photograph is an embossed print in Chinese characters "[…]" and "MING NGAD"
Scope and Content
Studio portrait of an unidentified toddler-age child of Chinese descent. The child is wearing a yellow, collared, two-piece pant suit and brown, closed-toe shoes. The child is seated on a red and white tricycle in front of a green riser and sky blue backdrop. The flooring has a gray and white pattern.
Photograph of a child's birthday party held at the Dragon Inn. A group of children are seated around a rectangular table. Full length drapes over windows are pulled closed behind them.
Photograph of a child's birthday party held at the Dragon Inn. A group of children are seated around a rectangular table. Full length drapes over windows are pulled closed behind them.
Item consists of a recording of part three in a series of three “Back to the Roots” podcasts where the hosts Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, "Dig up the roots of the past to unearth the foundations of the Chinese Canadian experience in Burnaby." This episode three is titled "Chinese Herbalist Shops and …
Podcasts hosts: Rose Wu; Wei Yan Yeong
Persons from recorded extracts: Denise Fong; Josephine Chow; Julie Lee
Guest: Dr. John Yang
Podcast Date: October 2020
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 00:16:19 min
Photograph info: Store front of Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co in Victoria, B.C., 1975. BV017.7.191
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of part three in a series of three “Back to the Roots” podcasts where the hosts Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong, "Dig up the roots of the past to unearth the foundations of the Chinese Canadian experience in Burnaby." This episode three is titled "Chinese Herbalist Shops and TCM". The podcasts were created by students Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia Faculty and while student interns at Burnaby Village Museum. In this series the students connect their knowledge of food systems to their shared Chinese heritage in order to discover how Chinese Canadian history is rooted in their local food systems.
00:00 - 01:34
Podcast opens with an introduction to this episode in the podcast series.
01:35 - 03:43
This portion of the podcast consists of segments of pre-recorded interviews between Denise Fong and Chinese-Canadians Julie Lee and Josephine Chow who grew up in Burnaby. Josephine and Jule recall visiting herbalist shops in Vancouver's Chinatown during the nineteen fifties and sixties. Due to the lack of herbalist shops in the Burnaby community during that time, it was common for a Chinese farming family to travel to Vancouver’s Chinatown in order to obtain herbal prescriptions or dried goods. Julie speaks briefly about what the type of Traditional Chinese medical care and advice her mother and family received. Josephine Chow tells of a female Chinese doctor from Vancouver, Madeline Chung who was responsible for delivering a lot of Chinese babies including Josephine and describes how her mother would take members of the family to the herbalist in Vancouver's Chinatown.
03:44 - 04:44
In this portion, the hosts tell of how aside from its medicinal purposes, herbalist shops also have a major socio-cultural significance to the Chinese community. The hosts describe the traditional layout of Chinese herblist shops, with a table set up for the game Ma Jong in the back and a seating area where customers could chat while waiting and be served tea. The hosts provide an example of the "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co." herbalist shop in Victoria that was open between 1905 and 1967 and of how the shop and contents are now part of a permanent exhibit at the Burnaby Village Museum.
04:45 - 09:21
In this portion, the hosts describe "Traditional Chinese Medicine" also known as "TCM". In order to better understand the importance of TCM in Chinese culture, and specifically to Chinese-Canadian immigrants, the hosts interview Dr John Yang, the chairperson and program director of Kwantlen Polytechnic University's TCM program. Holding a PHD in TCM before migrating with his family to Canada, Dr Yang came here 30 years ago and immediately started his journey as a TCM practitioner at his home basement in Burnaby. Dr. Yang tells of how he worked with the lobbying group, ATCMA (The British Columbia Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Practitioners) to help legitimize TCM as a recognized form of medical health care. In 1996, the Canadian government finally approved the legitimization of TCM in Canada, where one is required to take a licensing exam before they’re allowed to start their practices in Canada.
09:22 - 15:17
In this portion of the podcast, Dr. Yang and hosts describe how Traditional Chinese Medicine and treatments differ from Western medicine, how TCM is a way of life and regularly incorporated into recipes and diets, the lack of social acceptance and the import of Chinese medicinal herbs and misconceptions.
15:18 - 16:19
Conclusion, credits and acknowledgements.
History
Podcast hosts, Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong are University of British Columbia students in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and student interns at Burnaby Village Museum.
See also Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020 - BV020.6.1; Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong February 6, 2020 - BV020.6.2
For associated video recording of research interview with Dr. John Yang - see BV020.28.1
Compilation of Research Resources used by authors Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong include:
B.C. to recognize doctors of Chinese medicine:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/b-c-to-recognize-doctors-of-chinese-medicine-1.396806
B.C. takes steps to legitimize traditional Chinese medicine:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/bc-takes-steps-to-legitimize-traditional-chinese-medicine/article18428851/
Traditional Chinese medicine moves into the mainstream
https://www.straight.com/life/415386/traditional-chinese-medicine-moves-mainstream
Burnaby Village Museum - Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong Feb. 7, 2020. BV020.6.1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/permalink/museumsoundrecording12337
Burnaby Village Museum, Interview with Julie Lee by Denise Fong Feb. 6, 2020. BV020.6.2
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/permalink/museumsoundrecording12338
Photograph of an unidentified Chinese man crouched down and working in a field. A gardening hoe is leaning on his shoulder and there are young trees growing behind him. This field and orchard could be located on the Love family property.
Photograph of an unidentified Chinese man crouched down and working in a field. A gardening hoe is leaning on his shoulder and there are young trees growing behind him. This field and orchard could be located on the Love family property.
Chinese Passport of Larry Lee. Yellow paper with Chinese characters throughout. Stamped with approval by the Special Commissioner/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Canada Immigrant Visa, Vancouver.
Chinese Passport of Larry Lee. Yellow paper with Chinese characters throughout. Stamped with approval by the Special Commissioner/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Canada Immigrant Visa, Vancouver.