Subseries consists of photographs collected by the Gavel Historical Society depicting various visits of state to Burnaby. Visits depicted include the 1986 visit of His Royal Highness Prince Charles and Her Royal Highness Princess Diana; the 1988 visit of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and His Roya…
Subseries consists of photographs collected by the Gavel Historical Society depicting various visits of state to Burnaby. Visits depicted include the 1986 visit of His Royal Highness Prince Charles and Her Royal Highness Princess Diana; the 1988 visit of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark in October of 1991; and the 1988 visit of Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. The subseries also includes media itineraries for two of these visits of state.
Varnished and beveled wooden cylinder, used to provide a place to bang a gavel. The top surfaces is dented and scratched with use. There is a small, golden coloured metal plaque nailed into the side of the gavel pad with 2 nails. It reads "Presented to The Corporation of The District of Burnaby / Operation Identification 15-5-78 / by Burnaby Kingsway Rotary Club
Object History
Gavel pad used by Mayor William Copland (1987-1996).
William “Bill” Copeland once joked that the reason he ran for mayor of Burnaby was because “there wasn’t a shadow of hope he would be successful” – and when the votes were tallied and he was declared victorious, Bill asked for a recount. Fortunately for the people of Burnaby, he was not serious and instead went on to become an overwhelmingly popular and much-respected leader of the community.
Bill’s service to his community began early in life. Born in Vancouver on May 19, 1927, Bill was still a young man when World War Two began but that did not stop him from serving in the Merchant Marines and in the Royal Canadian Navy. After the war, Bill and his wife Ruth raised three children and in 1955 he embarked on a career with the Burnaby Fire Department. Bill went on to serve Burnaby as a firefighter until his retirement in 1987 as an Assistant Fire Chief. During this lengthy tenure, Bill held a leadership role in the Firefighters’ Union Local 323 and served as Vice President of the 6th District of the International Association of Firefighters.
Over the years, Bill found various ways to contribute to the people of Burnaby. In conjunction with his work with the Fire Department, Bill was also President of the Burnaby Red Cross, Director of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Chairman of the St. John Ambulance, Life Member of the Burnaby North Lions Club and Member of the Deer Lake Chapter of the Rotary Club – to name but a very few of the numerous groups and organizations to which he belonged.
Immediately upon his retirement from the Fire Department in 1987, Bill was asked to run for the position of Mayor of Burnaby and was successful in his bid. As Mayor, Bill earned the respect of Council and the citizens of Burnaby for his outstanding work and dedication to the community.
Bill was an advocate of public participation and introduced the concept of “Area Advisory Committees” to the City with the appointment of the Hastings Street Advisory Committee. The success of this process has led to many other appointments for area advisory committees throughout Burnaby. Bill did not limit his good works to stay within the borders of the City, and as Mayor he was responsible for the two-year sister city twinning agreement with the city of El Zapotal, El Salvador. This campaign saw the citizens of Burnaby embark on numerous initiatives and fundraisers to offer support and assistance to this developing area.
In 1996, Bill retired from public life after serving three terms in office and in 1997, in recognition of Bill’s contribution to the community both as a firefighter and as Mayor, the newly constructed ice arena at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex was officially named the “Bill Copeland Sports Centre,” and in 2001, Bill was made a Freeman of the City.
William Copeland died August 30, 2002.
Varnished and beveled wooden cylinder, used to provide a place to bang a gavel. The top surfaces is dented and scratched with use.
Object History
Gavel pad used by Mayor William Copland (1987-1996).
William “Bill” Copeland once joked that the reason he ran for mayor of Burnaby was because “there wasn’t a shadow of hope he would be successful” – and when the votes were tallied and he was declared victorious, Bill asked for a recount. Fortunately for the people of Burnaby, he was not serious and instead went on to become an overwhelmingly popular and much-respected leader of the community.
Bill’s service to his community began early in life. Born in Vancouver on May 19, 1927, Bill was still a young man when World War Two began but that did not stop him from serving in the Merchant Marines and in the Royal Canadian Navy. After the war, Bill and his wife Ruth raised three children and in 1955 he embarked on a career with the Burnaby Fire Department. Bill went on to serve Burnaby as a firefighter until his retirement in 1987 as an Assistant Fire Chief. During this lengthy tenure, Bill held a leadership role in the Firefighters’ Union Local 323 and served as Vice President of the 6th District of the International Association of Firefighters.
Over the years, Bill found various ways to contribute to the people of Burnaby. In conjunction with his work with the Fire Department, Bill was also President of the Burnaby Red Cross, Director of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Chairman of the St. John Ambulance, Life Member of the Burnaby North Lions Club and Member of the Deer Lake Chapter of the Rotary Club – to name but a very few of the numerous groups and organizations to which he belonged.
Immediately upon his retirement from the Fire Department in 1987, Bill was asked to run for the position of Mayor of Burnaby and was successful in his bid. As Mayor, Bill earned the respect of Council and the citizens of Burnaby for his outstanding work and dedication to the community.
Bill was an advocate of public participation and introduced the concept of “Area Advisory Committees” to the City with the appointment of the Hastings Street Advisory Committee. The success of this process has led to many other appointments for area advisory committees throughout Burnaby. Bill did not limit his good works to stay within the borders of the City, and as Mayor he was responsible for the two-year sister city twinning agreement with the city of El Zapotal, El Salvador. This campaign saw the citizens of Burnaby embark on numerous initiatives and fundraisers to offer support and assistance to this developing area.
In 1996, Bill retired from public life after serving three terms in office and in 1997, in recognition of Bill’s contribution to the community both as a firefighter and as Mayor, the newly constructed ice arena at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex was officially named the “Bill Copeland Sports Centre,” and in 2001, Bill was made a Freeman of the City.
William Copeland died August 30, 2002.
File consists of media itineraries for two visits of state: Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark in October of 1991 and Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden in March of 1988.
File consists of media itineraries for two visits of state: Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark in October of 1991 and Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden in March of 1988.
Photograph of His Royal Highness King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia of Sweden enjoying a luncheon held at the Swedish Canadian Rest Home and Manor. Gunnar Axelson, president of the Swedish Canadian Rest Home, is seated on the other side of the Queen.
Photograph of His Royal Highness King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia of Sweden enjoying a luncheon held at the Swedish Canadian Rest Home and Manor. Gunnar Axelson, president of the Swedish Canadian Rest Home, is seated on the other side of the Queen.
Photograph of His Royal Highness King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia of Sweden seated in the center, enjoying a luncheon held at the Swedish Canadian Rest Home and Manor. Gunnar Axelson, president of the Swedish Canadian Rest Home, and his wife Mildred Axelson are seated on either side …
Photograph of His Royal Highness King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia of Sweden seated in the center, enjoying a luncheon held at the Swedish Canadian Rest Home and Manor. Gunnar Axelson, president of the Swedish Canadian Rest Home, and his wife Mildred Axelson are seated on either side of the King and Queen.
Photograph of Bob Prittie and Alan Emmott shaking hands. Alan Emmott has a gavel in his left hand, and Robert Prittie is wearing the Chain of Office. Robert W. Prittie was the New Democratic Party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnaby-Richmond from 1962 to 1968. He was a Burnaby Councillor from 1…
Photograph of Bob Prittie and Alan Emmott shaking hands. Alan Emmott has a gavel in his left hand, and Robert Prittie is wearing the Chain of Office. Robert W. Prittie was the New Democratic Party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnaby-Richmond from 1962 to 1968. He was a Burnaby Councillor from 1959 to 1962, and served as Mayor of Burnaby from 1969 to 1973.
Photograph of Robert sitting behind a desk, and leaning over and smiling at an unidentified child who is smiling back at him, with a gavel in his hand. Robert W. Prittie was New Democratic Party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnaby-Richmond from 1962 to 1968. He was a Burnaby Councillor from 195…
Photograph of Robert sitting behind a desk, and leaning over and smiling at an unidentified child who is smiling back at him, with a gavel in his hand. Robert W. Prittie was New Democratic Party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnaby-Richmond from 1962 to 1968. He was a Burnaby Councillor from 1959 to 1962, and served as Mayor of Burnaby from 1969 to 1973.
Photograph of Her Royal Highness Queen Margrethe II of Denmark holding two bouquets of flowers in her hands. Her Royal Highness is on a visit to the Dania Home, the "Modern Danish Rest Home" in Burnaby.
Photograph of Her Royal Highness Queen Margrethe II of Denmark holding two bouquets of flowers in her hands. Her Royal Highness is on a visit to the Dania Home, the "Modern Danish Rest Home" in Burnaby.
Photograph of Her Royal Highness Queen Margrethe II of Denmark looking over her shoulder, smiling. Her Royal Highness is on a visit to the Dania Home, the "Modern Danish Rest Home" in Burnaby.
Photograph of Her Royal Highness Queen Margrethe II of Denmark looking over her shoulder, smiling. Her Royal Highness is on a visit to the Dania Home, the "Modern Danish Rest Home" in Burnaby.
Photograph of Her Royal Highness Queen Margrethe II of Denmark recieving a bouquet of flowers from a young girl. Her Royal Highness is on a visit to the Dania Home, the "Modern Danish Rest Home" in Burnaby with her husband Prince Henrik (pictured on the far left).
Photograph of Her Royal Highness Queen Margrethe II of Denmark recieving a bouquet of flowers from a young girl. Her Royal Highness is on a visit to the Dania Home, the "Modern Danish Rest Home" in Burnaby with her husband Prince Henrik (pictured on the far left).