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 British Columbia Vocational School complex on Willingdon, next door to the British Columbia Institute of Technology. It would be renamed the Pacific Vocational Institute in 1978, and in 1986, would merge with the British Columbia Institute of Technology and remain a part of that i…
Photograph of the British Columbia Vocational School complex on Willingdon, next door to the British Columbia Institute of Technology. It would be renamed the Pacific Vocational Institute in 1978, and in 1986, would merge with the British Columbia Institute of Technology and remain a part of that institution to the present.
Photograph of the official opening of Simon Fraser University. A large group of spectators faces the stage from seats on the floor as well as the balcony.
Photograph of the official opening of Simon Fraser University. A large group of spectators faces the stage from seats on the floor as well as the balcony.
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.3 x 4.1 cm print on contact sheet 20.5 x 26.8 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the construction of the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Academic Quadrangle building, phase two. Information at lower right corner of photograph reads, "Academic Quadrangle Building / Phase Two / Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC / Z.S. Kiss - Architect / Laing Construction & Equipme…
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.3 x 4.1 cm print on contact sheet 20.5 x 26.8 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-802
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the construction of the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Academic Quadrangle building, phase two. Information at lower right corner of photograph reads, "Academic Quadrangle Building / Phase Two / Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC / Z.S. Kiss - Architect / Laing Construction & Equipment Ltd, General Contractors / No14 Date Aug 5, 1966, Facing E."
Postcard: colour aerial photo of Simon Fraser University; horizontal; on reverse in navy, "N.W. 49" "SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY" "N. Burnaby (Vancouver), B.C. Canada" "The aerial view shows..."; illustration of R.C.M.P. officer at left; at bottom left, "S-2587"; navy line up centre with "NATURAL COLOR PRODUCTIONS, LTD., VANCOUVER, B.C."; at bottom, "MADE IN CANADA" "GRANT-MANN", logo; at upper right, illustration of mounted R.C.M.P. officer, "POST CARD" "ADDRESS"; large beige stamp at upper right corner, "6" "VINCENT MASSEY 1887-1967" "GOVERNOR GENERAL" "GOUVERNEUR GENERAL" "1952-1959" "CANADA"; round postmark "VANCOUVER B.C." "7 -M" "OCT --" "19-9"; rectangular cancellation "HADASSAH BAZAAR" "P.N.E. SHOWMART" "PURE FOODS BLDG." "OCT.22 - --"; addressed in pencil, "Mr. Russell H. Lane" "Box 898," "High River, Alberta"; message "Tuesday P.M." "Vancouver, B.C." "Oct 14/69" "Looking forward to tomorrow! K"; slight smudging
Photographic postcard taken looking north towards Simon Fraser University. The caption on the back of the postcard reads: "The aerial view shows part of the university buildings on Burnaby Mountain, with Burrard Inlet, Indian Arm and the North Shore Mountains in the background."
Photographic postcard taken looking north towards Simon Fraser University. The caption on the back of the postcard reads: "The aerial view shows part of the university buildings on Burnaby Mountain, with Burrard Inlet, Indian Arm and the North Shore Mountains in the background."
Photograph of apprentice senior program analyst Don Cowell standing at Simon Fraser University's computer center, holding a sheet of printout, as he smiles at the camera. A woman is sitting at the desk next to him, which holds the console typewriter, reaching to hang up the phone. She is also smili…
Photograph of apprentice senior program analyst Don Cowell standing at Simon Fraser University's computer center, holding a sheet of printout, as he smiles at the camera. A woman is sitting at the desk next to him, which holds the console typewriter, reaching to hang up the phone. She is also smiling. This is the "control unit" for the "first computerised on-line library loan system in Canada".
Photograph of Lloyd Axworthy, a Liberal MP from Winnipeg who served as Minister of Employment and Immigration, addressing a crowd of students at the Pacific Vocational Institute. Axworthy speaks at a podium in an atrium; a student faces him with another microphone.
Photograph of Lloyd Axworthy, a Liberal MP from Winnipeg who served as Minister of Employment and Immigration, addressing a crowd of students at the Pacific Vocational Institute. Axworthy speaks at a podium in an atrium; a student faces him with another microphone.
Photograph of a student at the Pacific Vocational Institute, standing in front of a microphone and about to address Lloyd Axworthy. The photograph is taken over Axworthy's shoulder. Axworthy was a Liberal MP from Winnipeg who served as Minister of Employment and Immigration.
Photograph of a student at the Pacific Vocational Institute, standing in front of a microphone and about to address Lloyd Axworthy. The photograph is taken over Axworthy's shoulder. Axworthy was a Liberal MP from Winnipeg who served as Minister of Employment and Immigration.
Photograph of Lloyd Axworthy, a Liberal MP from Winnipeg who served as Minister of Employment and Immigration, addressing a crowd of students at the Pacific Vocational Institute. Axworthy speaks at a podium in an atrium. The photograph is from Burnaby Today and is taken from behind Axworthy.
Photograph of Lloyd Axworthy, a Liberal MP from Winnipeg who served as Minister of Employment and Immigration, addressing a crowd of students at the Pacific Vocational Institute. Axworthy speaks at a podium in an atrium. The photograph is from Burnaby Today and is taken from behind Axworthy.