"100 Years of Gilmore School". Filmed by Yunuen Perez Vertti and made by the Heights Neighbourhood Association. The film includes interviews with former students and highlights their experiences through the Great Depression, the Second World War and the 1960s.
"100 Years of Gilmore School". Filmed by Yunuen Perez Vertti and made by the Heights Neighbourhood Association. The film includes interviews with former students and highlights their experiences through the Great Depression, the Second World War and the 1960s.
History
Yunuen Perez Vertti is a filmmaker and digital media artist originally from Mexico City. She has produced films for many public, private and non-profit organizations.
File contains photographs from the announcement of sponsorship for the 2009 World Police and Fire Games in Burnaby at the Copeland Arena. Photographs depict an unidentified RCMP officer during a moment of silence, with the John Robson Elementary School choir in the background, and unidentified fire…
File contains photographs from the announcement of sponsorship for the 2009 World Police and Fire Games in Burnaby at the Copeland Arena. Photographs depict an unidentified RCMP officer during a moment of silence, with the John Robson Elementary School choir in the background, and unidentified fire fighters demonstrating a rope rug-of-war event.
Collected by editorial for use in a March 2005 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata for 535-2172-1: "A member of the RCMP and the John Robson Elementary School choir pay silent tribute to four RCMP officers who were killed in Alberta, prior to the announcement of sponsorship for the World Police and Fire Games, Tuesday at Copeland Arena."
Caption from metadata for 535-2172-2: "Burnaby firefighters demonstrate the tug-of-war, one of the events that comprise the firefighters' muster, a sports that will be featured at the 2009 World Police and Fire Games."
Built after the end of the First World War, this house features an eclectic blend of Arts and Crafts elements. Constructed for A.E. Brown and a full two storeys in height, it has a front jerkin-headed roof with a jerkin-headed side projection, and a corner wraparound verandah with tapered columns. The house has been maintained in near original condition, with original lapped wooden siding, multi-paned windows and square balusters.
Item consists of a recording of part one in a series of three “Back to the Roots” podcasts about the history of Chinese-Canadian farming in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Part one is titled “A Family Farm”. The podcasts were created by students Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong from the Faculty of Land an…
Podcasts hosts: Rose Wu; Wei Yan Yeong
Persons from recorded extracts: Denise Fong; Josephine Chow
Music: prod. riddiman
Podcast Date: October 2020
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 00:13:57 min
Photograph info: Store front of Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co in Victoria, B.C., 1975. BV017.7.191
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of part one in a series of three “Back to the Roots” podcasts about the history of Chinese-Canadian farming in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Part one is titled “A Family Farm”. The podcasts were created by students Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia Faculty and while student interns at Burnaby Village Museum. In this series the students connect their knowledge of food systems to their shared Chinese heritage in order to discover how Chinese Canadian history is rooted in their local food systems.
00:00-02:21
The podcast opens with Wei Yan Yeong and Rose Wu introducing themselves and their topic- the Chinese Canadian experience in Burnaby and the people who have made important contributions to the city’s development. “A Family Farm” talks about Chinese-owned businesses which are family run.
“The family-oriented nature of Chinese-owned businesses also extend to many of the early (and current) Chinese-owned farms in the Burnaby Big Bend area. When Chinese men first began farming in BC in the 1860s, a lot of them worked as labourers because they weren’t allowed to own land. After World War II many of these farmers were allowed to purchase lots, thanks to the Veterans Land Grant. These grants allowed returning veterans to purchase small parcels of land with government loans. Eventually, these men would start families on the farm, and many Chinese-owned farms became family-operated businesses where every member, male, female, child, and extended relatives were enlisted to work the grounds. And it was hard work, often from dawn to dusk, 6-7 days a week.”
02:23 – 07:50
This portion includes excerpts from Oral History interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) of Hop On Farms in the Burnaby Big Bend area. The interview was conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong. Josephine recalls growing up on the family farm with her six siblings. She tells of how the family pulled together money to purchase twelve acres along Marine Drive in 1951, her family’s background, daily life on the farm , responsibilities on the farm for her and her siblings and of how her mother had to balance working on the farm and providing for a family of ten to twelve people.
07:51 – 08:10
In this portion, hosts comment and reflect on their own experiences. “While it’s likely that a lot of this was done out of necessity and not being able to afford additional paid labourers, having grown up in Chinese households ourselves, we can definitely understand the rationale for these family-operated businesses and how it connects back to the Chinese understanding of family and kinship.”
08:11 – 09:06
In this portion, Rose and Wei provide information on the roots of the Chinese character for family “jia” in mandarin or “gah” in Cantonese. They explain that the term family is composed of two parts: the upper element is like a roof, symbolizing shelter, and the bottom part represents a pig which symbolizes food, whereby the Chinese character for family represents that of a farm.
They provide a quote from the writings of Francois de Martin-Donos “In ancient China, the farm is an enterprise, a shelter that insures one food and work. The farm is a place to rely on, but in return, needs to be maintained, including a set of responsibilities. In other words, “family” is the insurance of a stable life.”
09:07 – 10:27
In this portion, the hosts speak about how traditional Chinese thought is heavily influenced by the teachings of Confucius and Confucius philosophy. They explain how Confucius emphasized five sets of human relationships that form the basis for society: ruler and minister, husband and wife, parents and child, sibling and sibling, friend and friend. Of these five, three are familial relationships also known as Filial piety – the respect and care for one’s familial superiors (such as parents, elders, and ancestors). They speak of how this is one of Confucianism’s main teachings and in this respect caring for family members is seen as a moral obligation. In China housing arrangements are in the form of siheyuan”s — a type of residence that featured a courtyard surrounded on all four sides with buildings. These traditionally housed one large extended family if they were wealthy enough.
10:28 – 13:08
In this portion, hosts provide further information on Josephine Chow’s family experience working and living on the “Hop On” family farm through the decades. An excerpt from the interview with Josephine Chow conducted by Denise Fong is included. In this excerpt, Josephine reflects on her past experiences on the farm and her present day experiences of her siblings running the farm.
13:09 -13:56
Final summary, credits and acknowledgements.
History
Podcast hosts, Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong are University of British Columbia students in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and student interns at Burnaby Village Museum.
See also Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020 - BV020.6.1
Compilation of Research Resources used by authors Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong include:
Why is family important in China?
https://medium.com/@francois_dmd/why-is-family-so-important-in-china-1617b13a67
Burnaby Village Museum - Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong Feb. 7, 2020. BV020.6.1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/permalink/museumsoundrecording12337
Covered Roots: The History of Vancouver's Chinese Farms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4WHS2Uf3JU
Burnaby Village Museum Shares Chinese-Canadian Farming History This Summer https://westcoastfood.ca/burnaby-village-museum-shares-chinese-canadian-farming-history-this-summer/
Chinese Market Gardeners in the City of Burnaby BC Continue to Practice Urban Agriculture https://cityfarmer.info/chinese-market-gardeners-in-the-city-of-burnaby-bc-continue-to-practice-urban-agriculture/
Chinese Market Gardening in BC https://www.bcfoodhistory.ca/chinese-market-gardening-bc/
Item consists of an Affidavit in the Matter of Proof of Age for Elmer Wilson Martin. The Affidavit is signed on May 16, 1946 by Elmer Wilson Martin's mother, Bethia Martin and is signed proof of his date of birth in Saskatchewan and is signed by a Notary Public, Alexander J. Gordon.
Item consists of an Affidavit in the Matter of Proof of Age for Elmer Wilson Martin. The Affidavit is signed on May 16, 1946 by Elmer Wilson Martin's mother, Bethia Martin and is signed proof of his date of birth in Saskatchewan and is signed by a Notary Public, Alexander J. Gordon.
File contains a photograph of Zamarai Aziz, Abdul Hakim Nazeem, Abdurrah Ghias, and Abdul Ghafoori, the President of the Afghan Association of BC, standing outdoors and speaking together, and another photograph of an unidentified man.
File contains a photograph of Zamarai Aziz, Abdul Hakim Nazeem, Abdurrah Ghias, and Abdul Ghafoori, the President of the Afghan Association of BC, standing outdoors and speaking together, and another photograph of an unidentified man.
Collected by editorial for use in a September 2001 issue of the Burnaby NewsLeader
Caption from metadata: "Abdul Ghafoori, President of the BC Afghan Association, Zamarai Aziz, Abdul Hakim Nazeem and Abdurrah Ghias, say they're concerned about a backlash against their community as the United States targets their homeland in a war against terrorism."
1 photograph : sepia ; 15 x 10 cm in oval window mat 14 x 9 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph portrait of Agnes Smith. Agnes was Flossie Parons' (nee Smith) only sister who died in 1936. Agnes is wearing a white off the shoulder gown, pearl neckace and is holding a floral bouquet.
1 photograph : sepia ; 15 x 10 cm in oval window mat 14 x 9 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph portrait of Agnes Smith. Agnes was Flossie Parons' (nee Smith) only sister who died in 1936. Agnes is wearing a white off the shoulder gown, pearl neckace and is holding a floral bouquet.
History
Flossie Maude Parsons (nee Smith) was born to George Henry Smith, a farm labourer, and Harriet Ann Savage on February 13, 1896 in Ealing, England. She immigrated to Canada with some of her family members in the early 1920s. They lived in Winnipeg for a few years as an older brother had settled there in 1912. She married Herbert Russell Parsons on June 23, 1928. They first lived in Vancouver and finally bought a home at 7091 Jubilee Avenue, South Burnaby in the early 1930s. In 1943, Flossie was certified in Home Nursing. Herbert Parsons was active during the Second World War as a volunteer for Civil Defence in Burnaby and worked as a salesman for Woodwards. The couple had no children. Herbert passed away on May 23rd, 1957 (age 84) and Flossie passed away on April 6, 1996 (age 100).
Photograph of six air force cadets standing together in two rows outside their barracks in Vernon. Each of the three cadets in the front row have cigarettes in their hands. Written on the back of the photograph is: "Some of the boys on the porch." John Shaw is the third from the left; the rest are …
Photograph of six air force cadets standing together in two rows outside their barracks in Vernon. Each of the three cadets in the front row have cigarettes in their hands. Written on the back of the photograph is: "Some of the boys on the porch." John Shaw is the third from the left; the rest are unidentified.
Photograph of fifteen air force cadets performing on stage at a show in Calgary, Alberta. John Shaw was a part of this musical group and he has written on the back of the picture: "The Captain looks a little nervous in this one, he's biting his lip. Sgt. Moody, leaning on the piano, takes the scrip…
Photograph of fifteen air force cadets performing on stage at a show in Calgary, Alberta. John Shaw was a part of this musical group and he has written on the back of the picture: "The Captain looks a little nervous in this one, he's biting his lip. Sgt. Moody, leaning on the piano, takes the script. Syd Bending is violinist, darn good too."
Photograph of the interior of the office where John Shaw worked during his time with the Royal Canadian Air Force. John has written on the back of the photograph: "The orderly room again. Can't see a heck of a lot though. Should have been a time exposure."
Photograph of the interior of the office where John Shaw worked during his time with the Royal Canadian Air Force. John has written on the back of the photograph: "The orderly room again. Can't see a heck of a lot though. Should have been a time exposure."
Photograph of the interior of an air force office. John Shaw has written on the back of the picture: "The Orderly Room. Corporal Honey in the foreground leaning on the counter which holds all our forms in those pigeon holes you can see."
Photograph of the interior of an air force office. John Shaw has written on the back of the picture: "The Orderly Room. Corporal Honey in the foreground leaning on the counter which holds all our forms in those pigeon holes you can see."
Note on verso of photograph reads: "All the gang from 220. Joe on my left and then Bill Hatton on his left, another fine lad. He was posted to Prince Edward Island, 60 miles from home. Will you please keep this for me?"
Photograph of five men, all in air force uniforms, standing outside. The man on the far left is John Shaw and he has written on the back of the photograph: "Another candid shot. My stand would be complete with a halo."
Photograph of five men, all in air force uniforms, standing outside. The man on the far left is John Shaw and he has written on the back of the photograph: "Another candid shot. My stand would be complete with a halo."
Photograph of fifty-three men sitting and standing in front of a building in their air force uniforms. The photograph is captioned "PL # 2 - No. 3 Co. / T.C. # 110 January 1941 / Vernon BC." This is the group of air force cadets that went through training with John Shaw at Vernon during the winter …
Photograph of fifty-three men sitting and standing in front of a building in their air force uniforms. The photograph is captioned "PL # 2 - No. 3 Co. / T.C. # 110 January 1941 / Vernon BC." This is the group of air force cadets that went through training with John Shaw at Vernon during the winter of 1941. John can be seen third from the left in the second row (standing, with eyes closed).
Photograph of eleven men in uniform performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta and he has written on the back of the photograph: "Another informal one of the quartette. Cap's playing the accordion this time. The other …
Photograph of eleven men in uniform performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta and he has written on the back of the photograph: "Another informal one of the quartette. Cap's playing the accordion this time. The other Salvation Army guy is just an old fuss bag."
Photograph of ten men in uniform performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta and he has written on the back of the photograph: "The octet singing 'The West, A Nest and You.' We look kinda sick, I figure. Note the wedge…
Photograph of ten men in uniform performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta and he has written on the back of the photograph: "The octet singing 'The West, A Nest and You.' We look kinda sick, I figure. Note the wedge in my pants - hasn't faded, even after two months." John is third from the right, looking down at the music sheet.
Photograph of twelve men - most in uniform - and one woman, performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta and he has written on the back of the photograph: ""Yours truly" relaxing over a cigarette during the interviews." …
Photograph of twelve men - most in uniform - and one woman, performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta and he has written on the back of the photograph: ""Yours truly" relaxing over a cigarette during the interviews." John can be seen near the right of the photograph leaning against the piano with a cigarette in his hand.
Photograph shows a group of 12 men in uniform performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta, and he has written on the back of the photograph: "The octet doing a bit of a number accompanied by Cap on at the accordion."
A …
Photograph shows a group of 12 men in uniform performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta, and he has written on the back of the photograph: "The octet doing a bit of a number accompanied by Cap on at the accordion."
A caption on the envelope written by a previous archivist reads, "Pictures of John Shawn in Air Force WWII - In singing group - Calgary, Alberta."