This portion of the recording pertains to Les Francis's early years. He begins by mentioning his school days and moves into a detailed account of working with the municipality of Burnaby in the Hall and in the Stores.
This portion of the recording pertains to Les Francis's early years. He begins by mentioning his school days and moves into a detailed account of working with the municipality of Burnaby in the Hall and in the Stores.
Date Range
1914-1949
Photo Info
Les Francis (far right) receiving a Burnaby Long Service Award at the Gai Paree Supper Club, 1964. Item no. 485-070.
Recording is an interview with Les Francis conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, October 16, 2012. Major theme discussed: the role of the municipal worker in the nineteen-thirties through the war years.
Biographical Notes
Les Francis was born in London, England, in 1914 and came with his family to Burnaby in 1919. Except for a few years away on special projects, Les has lived in Burnaby ever since.
After attending Kingsway West Elementary and Burnaby South High Schools, Les joined the municipal work force. He first worked as a clerk in 1930 and later joined the Engineering Department where he spent his career maintaining and extending the municipal water system. Les Francis retired in 1979 as the City of Burnaby's Work's Superintendent.
Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
Photographic postcard of Reeve Weart addressing a crowd gathered around the bandstand in Central Park for the inauguration of Burnaby Water Works. The Reeve is standing as he looks towards the crowd. Other men are seated in a semi-circle inside the bandstand. This was known as "Splash Day."
Photographic postcard of Reeve Weart addressing a crowd gathered around the bandstand in Central Park for the inauguration of Burnaby Water Works. The Reeve is standing as he looks towards the crowd. Other men are seated in a semi-circle inside the bandstand. This was known as "Splash Day."
1 phototgraph : sepia ; 12.3 x 19.3 cm mounted on paper 13.3 x 20.1 mounted on cardboard 21.1 x 27.2 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby Waterworks construction staff from 1912. The five men in the group are clearly identified by the printed information on the cardboard mount provided by the photographer. Standing in the back to the left is Inspector J.M. MacLean. Standing to the right is Inspector F. Howard. …
1 phototgraph : sepia ; 12.3 x 19.3 cm mounted on paper 13.3 x 20.1 mounted on cardboard 21.1 x 27.2 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby Waterworks construction staff from 1912. The five men in the group are clearly identified by the printed information on the cardboard mount provided by the photographer. Standing in the back to the left is Inspector J.M. MacLean. Standing to the right is Inspector F. Howard. Seated on the left is Inspector John Parr. Seated in the middle is Supervising Engineer Campbell MacDonald. Seated on the right is Inspector N.W. Collins.