Item consists of an audio recording of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos conducted by Denise Fong with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview, Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos discuss; their ancestral background, childhood, pla…
Interviewer: Denise Fong
Co Interviewer and technical support: Kate Petrusa
Interviewees: Hipman "Jimmy" Chow and Donna Polos
Location of Interview: Home of Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos on Victory Street, Burnaby
Date of interview: June 29, 2022
Total Number of Tracks: 3
Total length of all Tracks: 02:06:53 min
Digital master recordings (wav) were recorded onto 3 separate audio tracks, edited and merged together and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of an audio recording of an oral history interview with Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos conducted by Denise Fong with assistance from Burnaby Village Museum Assistant Curator, Kate Petrusa. During the interview, Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos discuss; their ancestral background, childhood, places of residence, education, career history, how they met, Jimmy's experience working in the film industry, their home in Burnaby and their neighbourhood, their political activism in Burnaby, Robin Chung Dip's work in Vancouver’s' Chinatown, the gambling scene in Vancouver prior to legalized forms of gambling and their memories of supper clubs in Vancouver.
00:00 - 5:57 Opening introductions where Jimmy Chow and Donna Polos provide information on their full names, their birth places and their ancestral background. Jimmy clarifies that his birth name is Hipman Chow but that he was given the English name “Jimmy” by his father when he came to Canada. Jimmy shares that he was born in 1948, in the Village of Lin Pong Lee, Hoiping, China and immigrated to British Columbia with his mother, Gim Gee Chow in 1950 to escape the Communist Regime and to join his father who had already immigrated to Canada. Jimmy imparts that many Chinese immigrated to British Columbia in search of a better life, referring to it as “Gold Mountain” and that even though they faced extreme racial discrimination that many stayed since they felt that it was better than returning.
Donna Polos shares ancestral information on both her maternal and paternal sides of the family. Donna’s mother’s family came from Helsinki, Finland. Donna’s paternal grandmother emigrated from Ukraine to Argentina and then to Winnipeg. Donna’s paternal grandfather, James Kostopolus (renamed Polos) emigrated as a 12 year old orphan from Sparta, Greece to the United States but was denied entry so ended up going to Halifax and eventually made his way to Vancouver. Once in Vancouver, he became a restaurant proprietor and over the years, he owned and operated three restaurants in Vancouver, including; “Jimmy’s Café” (next door the Astoria Hotel); “Home Apple Pie Café” (Princess Avenue & Hastings Street) and a restaurant that was located on Alma Street.
05:58 - 13:28 Jimmy recollects in further detail, the many places that his family lived over the years. Jimmy’s father Robin Chung Dip Chow immigrated to Vancouver at the age of 14 years and worked and lived in Victoria and Vancouver. In 1950, Jimmy and his mother fled China, first to Hong Kong and then to Vancouver to join his father. Soon after arriving in Vancouver, for the next four years, he and his parents lived in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec City where his father, Robin had work in restaurants and hotels. Jimmy attended school while the family lived in these different places and began to learn English. After four years, the family returned to Vancouver, first living in areas of Chinatown and Strathcona before settling in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant. Jimmy shares his memories of growing up in Strathcona and the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, schools that he attended and the friendships that he made. Jimmy recollects details about the old Bethlehem Lutheran Church that he attended and describes the demands of the education required to become a Lutheran minister.
13:29 - 15:47 Jimmy tells of how his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow had to pay the Chinese Head Tax of $500 when he arrived in Vancouver at 14 years of age (1921) and how his father had to work hard pay off the head tax over the years. Denise Fong and Jimmy Chow, talk about the origin of a photograph portrait of Jimmy Chow that was taken around 1954 and speculate whether it might have been taken by well known portrait photographer, Yucho Chow.
15:48 - 19:33 Donna Polos recollects the many locations that her family lived while she was growing up in Vancouver. First residing at various locations in the downtown east side of Vancouver before moving to a home near Joyce Station where she lived until 21 years old. After 21 years of age, Donna moved in with roommates in Vancouver before moving in with Jimmy in North Burnaby in 1972. In 1976 Donna and Jimmy purchased their home on Victory Street.
Both Donna and Jimmy talk about their careers after high school. Jimmy talks about how he worked at the Supervalu grocery store near his house. Jimmy planned to use his savings from his job to travel but instead he used his savings for a down payment on a house with Donna. Donna imparts that after obtaining her teaching degree she began working in Burnaby schools, eventually teaching at Burnaby South.
19:34 - 32:08 Both Jimmy and Donna share their educational background and experiences growing up. Jimmy first attended Florence Nightingale elementary in Strathcona, then Mount Pleasant Elementary and later high school at 24th Avenue and Main Street. Donna lists the schools that she attended including; elementary school in Strathcona, Carlton Elementary School at Kingsway and Joyce, Windermere High School, Vancouver City College (Langara) and the University of British Columbia. Donna and Jimmy reflect on public transportation that was available during the time they were growing up. Donna recollects her childhood growing up in the neighbourhood of Joyce Station, the freedom that she experienced playing outside in nature and what inspired her to become a teacher. Jimmy reflects on some of his mentors and about his first experience seeing movies as a young child at a cinema in Asquith, Saskatchewan. Donna communicates her own experiences of sexism throughout her high school, college and university education (1968-1972).
32:09 - 36:18 Donna talks about her career history and some of her major turning points. Donna recollects starting out as a Chemistry lab assistant, marking math papers before working as a teacher on call and eventually being hired as a teacher at Clinton Elementary School where she taught for nine years. Donna shares a memory of her first experience working as a teacher on call at Gilmore Elementary School and the fire that occurred there. After starting a family (Jimmy and Donna had three children) Donna worked part time teaching while Jimmy worked full time in film. Donna, shares that in 1991, after a near death experience, she became interested in fine art and took drawing and watercolour painting classes. With this experience, Donna experimented with different painting techniques on paper and fabric. Donna tells of how she retired from teaching in 2008 but continued to participate in the schools as an Artist in Residence.
36:19 - 58:18 Jimmy talks about his work and career history. He shares memories of his experiences as a young boy delivering newspapers, working at a local pharmacy, stocking shelves at the local supermarket, and his experience working with troubled youth and of how he thought that he might like to become a social worker. Jimmy tells of how he was uncertain of what to do until he got a job with the CBC in 1973 which eventually launched his career as a property master in the film industry, becoming a member of IATSE and a voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures. Jimmy describes in detail what it means to be a property master and the work that is entailed in the film industry.
58:19 - 1:07:45 Donna Polos describes her art practice and her connection to Burnaby. Donna recollects how she first started working with textiles and fabrics from a young age and how this later inspired her to develop her own watercolour techniques of painting on paper, canvas and fabrics. Donna describes how she first got started by taking art classes in Burnaby and now has over 31 years of experience working in watercolour. Donna has worked as an Artist in Residence in Burnaby schools, been a member of the Burnaby Arts Council, had her first show in 1997 and has been involved in many art projects over the years. Donna describes the style of her work, first starting with more figurative work, social commentary and still life and that now most of her work is landscape based. Donna coveys that as a political activist in Burnaby, she was an active participant in the development of a tree bylaw, has petitioned to protect renters from demo-evictions and the impacts of future development on the local environment.
1:07:46 - 1:07:59 Background discussion between Denise Fong and Kate Petrusa re interviews.
1:08:00 - 1:26:36 Jimmy provides information on his connection to the local film industry and the changes that have occurred over the years. Jimmy describes the first studios on the North Shore and the eventual establishment of Bridge Studios on Boundary Road. Jimmy shares that in 1988, he and some of his colleagues in the film industry put a proposal together to buy the Bridge Studios but it didn't go through. Since the Bridge Studios and other film studios have been established in Burnaby and Vancouver, the industry has grown exponentially. Jimmy became the 54th member of the local IATSE union. Jimmy describes some of his experiences working on various productions including "Seven Years in Tibet", provides a description of what a film studio is, how it is used and the differences between working in the film industry in the United States and British Columbia.
1:26:37 - 1:32:46 Jimmy and Donna recollect how they first met, buying a house in Burnaby, getting married and starting a family. The two share memories of their wedding in White Rock and Jimmy talks about the Chinese hair cutting ceremony in recognition of their first born child that took place in Chinatown in Vancouver. Jimmy tells of how his parents had hopes of him marrying a Chinese woman and his mother began introducing him to a few young Chinese women from the time he was 16 years old. Jimmy mentions that his parents rarely used Western Medicine and relied on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Donna and Jimmy talk about Jimmy's parents, when they died and how happy his parents were to have grandchildren.
1:32:47 - 1:40:13 Jimmy and Donna talk about their house on Victory Street which they purchased in 1976. They share information on the history of the house, how it was built in 1939 by Norm Clark, how they fell in love with the design of the house and the neighbourhood.
1:40:14 - 1:58:31 Jimmy and Donna share information on their family life in Burnaby, their neighbourhood and favourite places in Burnaby. Donna lists the schools that their three children attended including; Nelson Avenue School, Burnaby South High School and Burnaby Central High School. Both Donna and Jimmy convey that all of their children played soccer and the benefits that the sport provided them. Donna and Jimmy talk about how the neighbourhood has changed over the years, the benefits of where they live, their fondness for built heritage and the many parks and trees in Burnaby.
1:58:32 - 2:02:50 Jimmy begins to share information on his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow's employment history. Jimmy recalls that his father, Robin worked in a variety of jobs over the years and as a young child, Jimmy was uncertain of what his father's job was but thought that he worked in accounting. He mentions that his father stopped working at 45 years of age due to a problem with his Achilles tendon. Jimmy describes his father as an intellectual who worked at gambling houses in Vancouver's Chinatown where people played mah-jong and fan-tan. Jimmy recollects that these were large clubs with lots of employees. His father never gambled but he was good with money so he worked on the management side. Jimmy mentions that while working in the film industry, his father took him and some of his film colleagues into some of the gambling houses in Chinatown to assist them with a production that they were working on.
2:02:51 - 2:06:58 Donna shares her own family history regarding gambling. She mentions that her uncle worked as a high end "bookie" in Vancouver and how in 1968, her uncle was arrested but got let go with just a small fine. Jimmy describes what gambling was like in those days with various sweepstakes, not under the jurisdiction of the government like it is today. Both Donna and Jimmy recollect the popularity of supper clubs their memories of Vie's Chicken and Steak House that was located in Hogan's Alley. Jimmy laments the destruction of Hogan's Alley and the other proposals that were brought forward that would change Chinatown and Strathcona.
History
Interviewees biography:
Hipman "Jimmy" Chow was born in Lin Pong Lee, Hoiping, China in 1948. In 1950, Jimmy Chow immigrated to Vancouver from China with his mother, Gim Gee Chow to join his father, Robin Chung Dip Chow who'd immigrated to Canada at 14 years of age in 1921. For the first four years after immigrating, Jimmy and his parents lived in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec before returning to Vancouver around 1954. Jimmy and his family then lived and worked in Vancouver eventually settling in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant. In the early 1970s, Jimmy met his future wife Donna Polos and they married in 1981. Donna Polos was born in 1949 to Donald James Polos and Mayme "May" Helen Tilikana Polos and grew up in Vancouver. Between the age of 5 and 21 years, Donna lived in the neighbourhood of Joyce Station. In 1976, Jimmy and Donna purchased and moved into a house on Victory Street in Burnaby where they still live today. While living on Victory Street, they've raised their three children. Donna received her teaching degree and taught in elementary schools for many years. In 1991, after a near death experience, Donna developed an interest in drawing and painting and began experimenting with water colour painting on fabric. Donna has since exhibited her work widely, participated as an Artist in Residence in Burnaby schools and is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. Jimmy entered the film industry in 1973, gaining experience and recognition as a property master and has worked on many films over a 45 year career.
Interviewer biography:
Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.
File contains photographs of BC Education Minister Tom Christenson and MLA Harry Bloy with young students at Stoney Creek Community School during a tour of Burnaby schools.
File contains photographs of BC Education Minister Tom Christenson and MLA Harry Bloy with young students at Stoney Creek Community School during a tour of Burnaby schools.
Collected by editorial for use in a January 2005 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata for 535-1854-1: "BC Education Minister Tom Christenson drops in on the roots of empathy program at Stoney Creek Community School during a tour of Burnaby schools on Wednesday."
Caption from metadata for 535-1854-2: "MLA Harry Bloy hands out reading packages to kindergarten students at Stoney Creek Community School, during a tour of Burnaby schools with education minister Tom Christenson on Wednesday."
Photograph of Douglas Road Elementary School daycare supervisor Stasi Larson with students in a classroom. They are sitting at a classroom table and colouring.
Photograph of Douglas Road Elementary School daycare supervisor Stasi Larson with students in a classroom. They are sitting at a classroom table and colouring.
Collected by editorial for use in a February 2005 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Daycare supervisor Stasi Larson helps students Leo Cheng, 8, and Marika Bremer-Evans, 7, colour masks at the Douglas Road Elementary School on Monday afternoon."
File contains photographs of Burnaby North Secondary Students taking part in a production of the musical Grease. Photographs depict the students posing in their costumes and holding up their teacher.
File contains photographs of Burnaby North Secondary Students taking part in a production of the musical Grease. Photographs depict the students posing in their costumes and holding up their teacher.
Photograph of Dr. Ethel Gardner posing with educational materials that read: "S'ólh Halq’eméylem" and "An Introduction to the Halq’eméylem Language Lessons 1-15".
Photograph of Dr. Ethel Gardner posing with educational materials that read: "S'ólh Halq’eméylem" and "An Introduction to the Halq’eméylem Language Lessons 1-15".
Photograph of Margaret Kelly, winner of a Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education, posing behind a toy car in a daycare playground.
Photograph of Margaret Kelly, winner of a Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education, posing behind a toy car in a daycare playground.
Collected by editorial for use in a March 2005 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "After 27 years working in daycare, Margaret Kelly is being recognized with the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education. She was presented with her award in Ottawa on Tuesday."
Collected by editorial for use in a September 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Rennie Maierle, the principal at Marlborough Elementary School in Burnaby, is in charge of keeping one of the largest public schools in the province running smoothly."
File contains photographs of technology in use at Burnaby public schools. Photographs depict students and a teacher from Burnaby South Secondary, Burnaby North Secondary, and Stoney Creek Community schools with Personal Digital Assistants, computers, and projects designed and made with computer tec…
File contains photographs of technology in use at Burnaby public schools. Photographs depict students and a teacher from Burnaby South Secondary, Burnaby North Secondary, and Stoney Creek Community schools with Personal Digital Assistants, computers, and projects designed and made with computer technology.
Collected by editorial for use in a January 2002 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata for 535-2931-1: "Steve Fuerderer, a physics teacher at Burnaby South, uses a projector hooked up to a desktop computer to illustrate his lectures."
Caption from metadata for 535-2931-2: "David Carne, a Grade 11 student at Burnaby South Secondary, uses a Personal Digital Assistant to help him keep track of his class assignments."
Caption from metadata for 535-2931-3: "Chris Dickson adjusts a character while William Shand lines up the next shot as they work on a stop-animation project in their Grade 9 Media Arts class at Burnaby North Secondary."
Caption from metadata for 535-2931-4: "Wesley May, 12, a Grade 7 student at Stoney Creek Community School, helped design the school's website."
Caption from metadata for 535-2931-5: "Ilario Ghilarducci, a Grade 10 student at Burnaby North Secondary, used a computer to design the plans for a frame house he built for a class project."
Photograph of Joan Lee, the principal of Stride Avenue Community School and soon Taylor Park Elementary School, leaning against a fence in front of the school, facing Griffiths Drive.
Photograph of Joan Lee, the principal of Stride Avenue Community School and soon Taylor Park Elementary School, leaning against a fence in front of the school, facing Griffiths Drive.
Collected by editorial for use in a June 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Joan Lee, the principal of Stide Avenue Community School, will face a unique challenge in 2002, when she'll also be running the new Taylor Park School, with a busy thoroughfare, 20th St., between them."
Photograph of Gary Begin with a "sock tree": a Christmas tree that has mittens and socks hung on it like ornaments. Begin is hanging an ornament on the tree, which is collecting the clothing items to donate to children.
Photograph of Gary Begin with a "sock tree": a Christmas tree that has mittens and socks hung on it like ornaments. Begin is hanging an ornament on the tree, which is collecting the clothing items to donate to children.
Collected by editorial for use in a December 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Gary Begin makes another contribution to the "sock tree" he started, to collect socks, and gloves, and other items of small clothing, to be distributed to underprivleged kids at Edmonds Community School."
Photograph of Chris Lynam and the other members of Burnaby South High School's CounterAttack Committee. They are standing in a half-circle in a classroom, listening to Lynam speak.
Photograph of Chris Lynam and the other members of Burnaby South High School's CounterAttack Committee. They are standing in a half-circle in a classroom, listening to Lynam speak.
Collected by editorial for use in a December 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Chris Lynam (right) confers with members of Burnaby South's Counterattack Committe, Yolana Lumb, Jesse Dostal, and James Wilson. Lynam has been recognized by ICBC for his work with Counterattack."
Collected by editorial for use in an August 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Recently retired from the Coquitlam School District, Gail Course relaxes on the balcony of her Burnaby townhouse, looking forward to an Alaskan cruise with her husband, to keep her mind off the first week of school."
Photograph of Jack Trovato, a drama teacher at Alpha Secondary School, sitting in the middle of a circle of unidentified students during a reading of the play "It's A Wonderful Life."
Photograph of Jack Trovato, a drama teacher at Alpha Secondary School, sitting in the middle of a circle of unidentified students during a reading of the play "It's A Wonderful Life."
Collected by editorial for use in an October 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Drama teacher Jack Trovato leads the cast of Alpha Secondary's Christmas production in a dramatic reading of It's a Wonderful Life."
Photograph of Terry Waterhouse, the Manager of Youth Services at the Burnaby School District, posing with his arms crossed in a hallway as students pass by in the background.
Photograph of Terry Waterhouse, the Manager of Youth Services at the Burnaby School District, posing with his arms crossed in a hallway as students pass by in the background.
Collected by editorial for use in an October 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Terry Waterhouse, the Burnaby School District's Manager of Youth Services, hosted a forum on bullying, at Burnaby South Secondary School, on Thursday."
File contains photographs of the new Burnaby Mountain Secondary School at the completion of its construction. Photographs depict: Principal Helen Vanee in the school's giant atrium and in its home economics classroom; the exterior of the school with its red roof; a line of lockers; and electrician …
File contains photographs of the new Burnaby Mountain Secondary School at the completion of its construction. Photographs depict: Principal Helen Vanee in the school's giant atrium and in its home economics classroom; the exterior of the school with its red roof; a line of lockers; and electrician Geoff Beukema working on wiring in the machine shops.
Collected by editorial for use in a May 2000 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata for 535-2398-1: "Helen Vanee, the principal of the new Burnaby Mountain Secondary School, surveys the giant atrium that is the focal point of the new building."
Caption from metadata for 535-2398-2: "The distinctive red roof that is visible from Gagliardi Way is actually the back of the school. The front entrance is on East Lake Dr."
Caption from metadata for 535-2398-3: "Principal Helen Vanee checks one of the ovens in the well-euqipped home economics classrooms."
Caption from metadata for 535-2398-4: "Lockers, painted in color schemes matching water, grass and sky, await their first students."
Caption from metadata for 535-2398-5: "Electrician Geoff Beukema works on wiring in the machine shops."
File contains photographs of teacher John Frederickson posing in an empty classroom. Photographs depict Frederickson gluing paper and leaning against a blackboard with his name displayed.
File contains photographs of teacher John Frederickson posing in an empty classroom. Photographs depict Frederickson gluing paper and leaning against a blackboard with his name displayed.