Robert Prittie subseries
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1950-2002
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consist of records created and collected by Robert Prittie during his teaching and political careers and following his retirement from public office. Records include Burnaby Teachers Association and other school organization records, election papers, and copies of various City reports an…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1950-2002
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Series
- Community Archives Collection series
- Subseries
- Robert Prittie subseries
- Physical Description
- Textual records and photographs
- Description Level
- Subseries
- Accession Number
- BHS1999-01
- Scope and Content
- Subseries consist of records created and collected by Robert Prittie during his teaching and political careers and following his retirement from public office. Records include Burnaby Teachers Association and other school organization records, election papers, and copies of various City reports and meeting minutes. Also included are photographic postcards of Burnaby, photographs of Robert Prittie attending official City functions, and aerial photographs of industrial and business sites in Burnaby.
- History
- Born in North Vancouver on December 5, 1919, Robert “Bob” William Prittie was the first of four sons born to Wilmot Prittie and Mary Adair. As a child, his health was weaker than younger brothers Bill, Eric and Halford, as he suffered from Polio and asthma. Bob was an industrious youth who left school early to work in a department store warehouse. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Bob enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force and spent the duration of the war serving on the ground in Canada at the Patricia Bay Air Force Base and the No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School in Manitoba, completing his high school education through correspondence courses.
While at the Patricia Bay Air Force Base, he met pre-school teacher Grace King of Sidney, Vancouver Island. By 1940 they were married and soon after, had their first son, Robert King.
In 1945, Bob was discharged from the air force with the rank of sergeant and entered the University of British Columbia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in history. After the war, Bob spent a few years working in Ottawa as a foreign-service officer, but he returned to UBC in 1949, receiving a diploma in education. He later undertook post-graduate studies at Laval University and Western Washington State College.
Bob returned to Burnaby in 1950 following the tragic death of their son. He immediately began teaching. Over the next thirteen years, he taught at Sperling Avenue School, McPherson Park Junior High School, Burnaby South High School and Burnaby North High School. He and Grace went on to have three more children: Heather in 1951, Bruce in 1953, and Ian in 1955.
In 1959 he was elected to serve as a member of the municipal Council, re-elected and serving until the end of his term in 1962 when he left to serve as Member of Parliament for the Burnaby-Richmond riding. He held that office until 1968.
In January 1969, Bob first took office as Mayor of Burnaby and in that capacity served on the GVRD as a Director for a number of years. In May of 1973, he decided to resign as Mayor of Burnaby in order to take up a position as Assistant Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs and in 1975 he was appointed as the Minister of Municipal Affairs, a post he held for a short time. After his tenure as Minister, Bob retired from public life and he and his second wife Isobel Pothecary moved to Victoria. Isobel had three children from a previous marriage: Alan, Deirdre and Fiona.
Bob left an enduring legacy for the citizens of Burnaby as a champion of schools, libraries and parks and recreation programs. In 1978 he was awarded the title of "Freeman of the Municipality" and in 1991 a new branch of the Burnaby Public Library was opened and named after him. His status as Freeman and the naming of the library in his honour are testament to his record of service and dedication to the community and its citizens.
Robert Prittie died on January 14, 2002.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Photograph
- Creator
- Prittie, Robert W. "Bob"
- Notes
- PC368, PC369, PC498, MSS086, MSS127
- Title based on contents and creator of subseries
Less detail
Bob Prittie
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1962 and 1973]
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.5 x 11.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Bob Prittie, 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.
Robert W. Prittie
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1969 and 1973] (date of original), copied [1995]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 17.2 x 11.9 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph (mounted and titled) of Robert W. Prittie, Mayor of Burnaby from 1969 to 1973 and member of Council from 1959 to 1962.
Bob Prittie and Doug Clark
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1969 and 1973]
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 19.5 x 24 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie standing in front of the Villa Motor Inn with the Inn's manager, Doug Clark. They are both holding onto the same hand carved plaque that Bob Prittie received from the Inn's sister hotel, the Kushiro Oriental Hotel in Kushiro, Hokkaido. (Kushiro is the sister city to …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1969 and 1973]
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 19.5 x 24 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 480-900
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- 2003-02
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie standing in front of the Villa Motor Inn with the Inn's manager, Doug Clark. They are both holding onto the same hand carved plaque that Bob Prittie received from the Inn's sister hotel, the Kushiro Oriental Hotel in Kushiro, Hokkaido. (Kushiro is the sister city to Burnaby). 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.
- Subjects
- Officials - Mayors and Reeves
- Names
- Prittie, Robert W. "Bob"
- Clark, Doug
- Burnaby Citizens Association
- New Democratic Party
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- LeBlanc, Don
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photographer identifies photograph as no. 5662-31
Less detail
Mayor Bob Prittie and Judge Graham Ladner
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1969 and 1973]
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 16. cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie sitting behind a desk, smiling, and wearing the Chain of Office. Sitting next him at the left, is Judge Graham Ladner, the father of Alderman Hugh Ladner (not pictured). Robert W. Prittie was the New Democratic Party's Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnaby-Richmond f…
Mayor Bob Prittie
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1969 and 1973]
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.5 x 5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie 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.
Bob Prittie with George McNeil
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1969 and 1973]
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 15 x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Bob Prittie sitting in a excavator with YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) President George McNeil standing next to him, holding an architectural drawing. They are at the site of the "new" Burnaby YMCA.
Mayor Bob Prittie
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1970
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 14 x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Bob Prittie signing papers with a pipe clenched between his teeth. 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.
Bob Prittie with Mitchell Molloy
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- January 12, 1970, published January 13, 1970
- Collection/Fonds
- Columbian Newspaper collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 16 x 13.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie showing the Big Brother proclamation to Mitchell Molloy, age 7, as he launches Big Brother week. Big Brothers "provides mature male adults to assist fatherless boys."
Burnaby Municipal Arena
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1970
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Burnaby Mayor Robert Prittie (standing in center) and two participants at the benefit hockey game between the Burnaby Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Burnaby Fire Department.
Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- July 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of members of the Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee seated at a large table. Members identified from left to right include: Councillor Warren Clark, Gordon Skene, Mayor Robert Prittie, John Shaw (Municipal Clerk).
Speaker at Heritage Village sod-turning
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 April 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mayor Bob Pritte speaking at the official Heritage Village sod-turning event on April 11, 1971. Speeches took place on the porch of the Elworth house. Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) was Burnaby's Centennial '71 Commemorative project.
Officials at Heritage Village sod-turning
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 April 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of officials in front of caterpillar at official sod-turning for Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), April 11, 1971. . From left to right are; Centennial Commitee members, chair, James Barrington; Mayor Robert Prittie; Joan Johnson; School Board representative on the Centennia…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Series
- Copan album series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of officials in front of caterpillar at official sod-turning for Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), April 11, 1971. . From left to right are; Centennial Commitee members, chair, James Barrington; Mayor Robert Prittie; Joan Johnson; School Board representative on the Centennial Committee, Gordon Skene; Vice chair of the Centennial Committee, Rose Bancroft; Fraser Wilson, and Alderman Warren Clark.
- Subjects
- Events
- Celebrations - Centennials
- Officials - Aldermen and Councillors
- Officials - Commissioners
- Officials - Mayors and Reeves
- Names
- Barrington, James Alfred "Jim"
- Prittie, Robert W. "Bob"
- Wilson, Fraser
- Bancroft, Rose
- Skene, Gordon
- Stewart, A.B. "Sandy"
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Clark, Warren R.
- Accession Code
- BV005.54.418
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 11 April 1971
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Morley-Buckingham Area
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail
Officials at Heritage Village opening
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 19 November 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 8.9 x 8.9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of officials and guests gathered for the official opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971. Officials include; Governor-General Roland Michener standing under an umbrella (far left), BC Centennial chair Lawrie Wallace (in centre, dressed in blue shirt a…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Series
- Copan album series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 8.9 x 8.9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of officials and guests gathered for the official opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971. Officials include; Governor-General Roland Michener standing under an umbrella (far left), BC Centennial chair Lawrie Wallace (in centre, dressed in blue shirt and black coat) and Mayor Bob Prittie (standing to the far right) wearing the Corporation of the District of Burnaby insignia around his neck. Officials are standing outside of the Village Blacksmith Shop.
- Subjects
- Events - Openings
- Names
- Michener, Daniel Roland "Roland"
- Prittie, Robert W. "Bob"
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Lawrie, Wallace
- Accession Code
- BV005.54.459
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 19 November 1971
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- August 11, 2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail
Governor General Roland Michener and officials at Heritage Village opening
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 19 November 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 8.9 x 8.9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie (left), Governor General Roland Michener (centre, in black suit), and BC Centennial chair Lawrie Wallace (right), at opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Series
- Copan album series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 8.9 x 8.9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie (left), Governor General Roland Michener (centre, in black suit), and BC Centennial chair Lawrie Wallace (right), at opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971.
- Subjects
- Events - Openings
- Buildings - Civic - Museums
- Names
- Prittie, Robert W. "Bob"
- Michener, Daniel Roland "Roland"
- Wallace, Lawrie
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV005.54.460
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 19 November 1971
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- August 11, 2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail
Mayor Robert Prittie at Heritage Village sod-turning
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 April 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mayor Robert 'Bob' Prittie climbing onto caterpillar tractor with Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee chariman, James Barrington, Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers and others standing by at official sod-turning at Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum). Bulldozer belonged to …
Mayor Robert Prittie operating caterpillar at Heritage Village sod-turning
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 April 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mayor Robert 'Bob' Prittie operating caterpillar tractor in front of band and crowd at official sod-turning at Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), April 11, 1971.
Mayor Bob Prittie and Sandy Stewart at Heritage Village sod-turning
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 11 April 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mayor Bob Prittie giving a speech and Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee member Sandy Stewart standing behind him at official sod-turning at Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), April 11, 1971. Both men are standing on the front porch of the Elworth house and are wearing golde…
Visitors at Heritage Village official opening
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 19 November 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of visitors surrounding Roland Michener, Governor General and Mayor Bob Prittie outside of building at the official opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971.
Governor General Roland Michener speaking at Heritage Village opening
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 19 November 1971
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Governor General Roland Michener, giving speech at the official opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971. Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee chair, James A. Barrington, Mayor Bob Prittie, and Centennial Subcommittee chair Sandy Stewart are standing b…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Donald Copan collection
- Series
- Copan album series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 12.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Governor General Roland Michener, giving speech at the official opening of Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum), November 19, 1971. Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee chair, James A. Barrington, Mayor Bob Prittie, and Centennial Subcommittee chair Sandy Stewart are standing behind him to the right.
- Subjects
- Events - Openings
- Names
- Barrington, James Alfred "Jim"
- Prittie, Robert W. "Bob"
- Stewart, A.B. "Sandy"
- Michener, Daniel Roland "Roland"
- Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV005.54.591
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 19 November 1971
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 18-Aug-2020
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail
![Bob Prittie, [between 1962 and 1973] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-898.jpg?width=280)
![Bob Prittie, [between 1962 and 1973] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-898.jpg)
![Robert W. Prittie, [between 1969 and 1973] (date of original), copied [1995] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/126/126-020.jpg?width=280)
![Robert W. Prittie, [between 1969 and 1973] (date of original), copied [1995] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/126/126-020.jpg)
![Bob Prittie and Doug Clark, [between 1969 and 1973] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-900.jpg?width=280)
![Bob Prittie and Doug Clark, [between 1969 and 1973] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-900.jpg)
![Mayor Bob Prittie and Judge Graham Ladner, [between 1969 and 1973] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-903.jpg?width=280)
![Mayor Bob Prittie and Judge Graham Ladner, [between 1969 and 1973] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-903.jpg)
![Mayor Bob Prittie, [between 1969 and 1973] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-905.jpg?width=280)
![Mayor Bob Prittie, [between 1969 and 1973] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-905.jpg)
![Bob Prittie with George McNeil, [between 1969 and 1973] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-913.jpg?width=280)
![Bob Prittie with George McNeil, [between 1969 and 1973] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/480/480-913.jpg)
