Helen 'The Swinging Girl' Neon Sign
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- Commercial building.
- Associated Dates
- 1956
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Other Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear Sign
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Other Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear Sign
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Associated Dates
- 1956
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Enactment Type
- Bylaw No. 12771
- Enactment Date
- 19/04/2010
- Description
- Commercial building.
- Heritage Value
- While the building here is of some importance as the former North Burnaby municipal office, its primary importance is its delightful neon sign that has become a North Burnaby landmark. Helen Arnold opened Helen’s Childrens Wear shop in the building next door to the old Municipal offices in 1948. In 1955, when North Burnaby moved out, she moved into the vacated building. As part of the renovations, Helen enlisted the assistance of her good friend Jimmy Wallace, owner of Vancouver’s Wallace Neon Company, to create a new sign for her expanded business. One of the company’s designers, Reeve Lehman, created the swinging neon girl that was installed in 1956. Designed in two parts, one section of the sign is cloud shaped and reads ‘Helen’s’ while the other section is a moving representation of a little girl on a swing. The sign is nine feet six inches high and nine feet wide, and the lower section is animated with an internal motor and gears. It immediately became a landmark on Hastings Street, and recently the sign’s design fame has spread far and wide as one of the best surviving examples of kinetic neon art in North America.
- Locality
- Vancouver Heights
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Willingdon Heights Area
- Community
- Burnaby
- Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Street Address
- 4142 Hastings Street
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Less detail
3700 Block East Hastings
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [196-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w negative
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the commercial properties located on the south side of the 3700 block of East Hastings Street. Businesses on the block include the Admiral Decorating Supply and the Trader.
3800 Block East Hastings
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [196-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w negative
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the commercial properties located on the 3800 block of East Hastings Street. The sign for Halliwell's Shoe Repair at 3818 East Hastings Street is visible in the background. The photograph is taken from a low vantage point on Hastings Street, facing east.
3900 Block East Hastings businesses
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [196-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w negative
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the businesses along the north side of the 3900 block of East Hastings Street. Signs for the National Bakery at 3918 East Hastings and Tobin's Quality Shoes at 3972 East Hastings are visible. Photograph taken from the north side of Hastings facing west.
3900 Block East Hastings Street
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [196-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 3 photograph : b&w negatives
- Scope and Content
- Photographs of the rears of the businesses located along the 3900 block of East Hastings Street.
3900 Hastings Street
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1965 and 1970]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w negative
- Scope and Content
- Photograph taken looking west along Hastings Street, in front of the 3900 Block.
3901 Hastings Street
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1965 and 1970]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w negative
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the storefront at 3901 Hastings Street. A "for sale" sign is visible in the window.
3951 and 3953 Hastings Street
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1965]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w negative
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the buildings at 3951 and 3953 Hastings Street. A number of business signs are visible including "Paulettes Beauty Salon" and "Norburn Secondhand Store."
Actor Katey Wright
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2003]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of actor Katey Wright posing with plants in the Mandeville Garden Centre as promotion for Wright's role in the Arts Club Theatre's production of Little Shop of Horrors.
Alan Reid at GardenWorks
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2006]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Alan Reid, horticulturalist for GardenWorks, holding up a celandie (common buttercup) toward the camera as an example of an alternative plant to grass for lawns. Reid is surrounded by other potted plants sitting on the ground.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2006]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 535-1909
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Alan Reid, horticulturalist for GardenWorks, holding up a celandie (common buttercup) toward the camera as an example of an alternative plant to grass for lawns. Reid is surrounded by other potted plants sitting on the ground.
- Subjects
- Gardens
- Plants - Flowers
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a February 2006 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata: "Alan Reid, the horticulturalist for Gardenworks, says low-maintenance plants that grow well in average soil, like the celandie, or common buttercup, heuchera, angelica and begenia, are good alternatives to a traditional grass lawn. He's giving a talk on alternative to lawns on March 1."
- Geographic Access
- Marine Drive
- Street Address
- 4746 Marine Drive
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Big Bend Area
Less detail
Apollo Hobbies
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of Dave Shewchuk, of Apollo Hobbies, demonstrating the store's new eight-lane electric slot car track and miniature racing cars.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-2099
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of Dave Shewchuk, of Apollo Hobbies, demonstrating the store's new eight-lane electric slot car track and miniature racing cars.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Recreational Activities
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a March 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata for 535-2099-1: "Dave Shewchuk gets ready to race at Apollo Hobbies' new 8-lane electric slot car track. The track is 148 ft. long, in a 700 square foot room. The miniature cars can reach real speeds of 30 mph."
- Caption from metadata for 535-2099-2: "Dave Shewchuk, of Apollo Hobbies, shows off one of the miniature electric racing cars that can be raced at the store's new 8-lane slot car track. The track is 148 ft. long, the largest in the Lower Mainland."
- Geographic Access
- Lougheed Highway
- Planning Study Area
- Government Road Area
Less detail
Black Cat Video
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- ca.1980
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of protestors walking outside of Black Cat Video. The photograph is from Burnaby Today.
Black Cat Video
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- ca.1980
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 25 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of protestors outside of Black Cat Video. The photograph is from Burnaby Today.
Bob's Sporting Goods
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2001]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the owner of Bob's Sporting Goods leaning against a counter inside of the store behind a display of ammunition. Guns hang on the wall behind him.
Boots N Stuff
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2001]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Barb Harris, owner of Boots N Stuff, pulling on a pair of fire fighter's boots as an example of the clothing and accessories the store sells to emergency workers.
Burnaby General Hospital gift shop
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- February 14, 1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 14 x 19.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of volunteers with the Burnaby General Hospital Auxiliary showing hospital administrators the items from their then newly-opened gift shop at the Burnaby General Hospital. From left are assistant administrator Anne Toupin, auxiliary president Ivy Baker, first vice-president Jane Bartle, …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- February 14, 1979
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 14 x 19.5 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 480-232
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2003-02
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of volunteers with the Burnaby General Hospital Auxiliary showing hospital administrators the items from their then newly-opened gift shop at the Burnaby General Hospital. From left are assistant administrator Anne Toupin, auxiliary president Ivy Baker, first vice-president Jane Bartle, administrator Norm K. Barth and auxiliary member Margaret Twist. Proceeds from the gift shop go to the hospital for patient support and comforts.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Civic - Hospitals
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Names
- Burnaby General Hospital
- Toupin, M. Anne
- Baker, Ivy
- Bartle, Jane
- Barth, Norm K.
- Twist, Margaret
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Battistoni, Peter
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Newspaper clipping attached to verso of photograph reads: "GIFT SHOP OPENS ... Volunteers with Burnaby General Hospital Auxiliary show items from their newly-opened gift shop to administrators. Proceeds go to the hospital for patient support and comforts. From left are assistant administrator Anne Toupin, auxiliary president Ivy Baker, first vice-president Jane Bartie, administrator N.K. Barth and auxiliary member Margaret Twist."
- Geographic Access
- Kincaid Street
- Street Address
- 3935 Kincaid Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Cascade-Schou Area
Less detail
Business staff affected by SkyTrain construction
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of employees of businesses affected by the SkyTrain construction along the Lougheed Highway. Photographs depict Javed Mufti setting up a patio umbrella at the Cactus Club, and Tanya Frackladge, a manager at the Canadian Tire at Lougheed and Rosser, tending to plants outsid…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [2000]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby NewsLeader photograph collection
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs (tiff) : col.
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- 535-2422
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2018-12
- Scope and Content
- File contains photographs of employees of businesses affected by the SkyTrain construction along the Lougheed Highway. Photographs depict Javed Mufti setting up a patio umbrella at the Cactus Club, and Tanya Frackladge, a manager at the Canadian Tire at Lougheed and Rosser, tending to plants outside of the Canadian Tire.
- Subjects
- Transportation - Skytrain
- Construction
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Bartel, Mario
- Notes
- Title based on caption
- Collected by editorial for use in a May 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
- Caption from metadata for 535-2422-1: "Javed Mufti, of the Cactus Club, says he's worried his restaurant's patio business will disappear as the Skytrain construction moves west along the Lougheed."
- Caption from metadata for 535-2422-2: "Tanya Frackladge, a manager at the Canadian Tire at Lougheed and Rosser, says she's had plenty of time to tend to the geraniums since the highway was shut down for Skytrain constructions."
- Geographic Access
- Lougheed Highway
- Rosser Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Brentwood Area
- Willingdon Heights Area
Less detail
Calendar
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV020.8.14
- Description
- A Childhood Safety Calendar from Helen's Children's Wear from 1966. The front page of the calendar has a airbrushed image of a small girl smiling with blue eyes. She has a headband with silver pom-poms. She is holding a doll with a red hat and braids.
The first two pages of the calendar are entitled "Children's Safety Diary.
Each month of the calendar has a different image of a child.
The back page has a reading entitled "Safety: Your Child's Most Important Lesson!"
- Object History
- Helen's Children's Wear was a popular and well known shop in Burnaby
- Helen's Children's Wear was located at 4142 Hastings Street. Owner Helen Arnold opened the store on East Hastings Street in 1948. She moved to the 4142 Hastings Street location in 1955, and added a landmark neon sign to the building in 1956. The sign featured a girl on a swing, and served as an important landmark in the neighbourhood. The store closed in 2007.
- Category
- 08. Communication Artifacts
- Classification
- Documentary Artifacts - - Other Documents
- Object Term
- Calendar
- Marks/Labels
- Helen's Children's Wear
Specializing in Brand Name Merchandise
4142 E Hastings Street, North Burnaby, BC
- Measurements
- 21 cm l x 17cm h
- Country Made
- United States of America
- Title
- Childhood Safety Calendar
- Publication Date
- 1966
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Clothing
- Documentary Artifacts
- Persons - Children
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
Less detail
Canada Way Food Market and Toy residence
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 13 Jun. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Harry Toy fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of Canada Way Food Market building and Toy family residence (above) located at 4694 Canada Way. Blue plastic food crates, store racks and car tires are in the parking area in front of the store. The food market closed in 2010.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Harry Toy fonds
- Series
- Harry Toy photographs series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff) : col.
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of Canada Way Food Market building and Toy family residence (above) located at 4694 Canada Way. Blue plastic food crates, store racks and car tires are in the parking area in front of the store. The food market closed in 2010.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Names
- Canada Way Food Market
- Geographic Access
- Canada Way
- Street Address
- 4694 Canada Way
- Accession Code
- BV023.25.2
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 13 Jun. 2023
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Related Material
- See also BV023.16.19 - Interview with Harry Toy, Beverley Babey and Christina Toy
- For associated artifacts from Canada Way Food Market see Accession BV023.17
- Scan Date
- 2023-06-13
- Photographer
- Petrusa, Kate
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail