This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's involvement with the formation of the Army of the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union).
This portion of the interview pertains to W.H. "Harry" O'Brien's involvement with the formation of the Army of the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union).
Date Range
[1932]-1936
Photo Info
Harry and Gertrude (Sutherland) O'Brien on their wedding day, October 12, 1940. Item no. 315-005
Recording is a taped interview with W.H. "Harry" O'Brien by SFU (Simon Fraser University) graduate student Bettina Bradbury. Major themes discussed are: the Army of the Common Good, the Union of the Unemployed and the Common Good Credit Union (now the South Burnaby Credit Union). To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".
Biographical Notes
W.H. “Harry” O’Brien was born in the coal mining town of Nanaimo, British Columbia on October 20, 1914. He came to Burnaby with his parents and five siblings in 1927. Harry’s mother, a school teacher, wanted her children to live closer to school in order to obtain a better education, so the O’Brien family settled at Inman Avenue, Burnaby. Harry's mother, Mary Anne Crossan, was Gilmore Avenue School's first teacher.
Harry left school in June of 1929. Harry’s father worked as the caretaker at Central Park around this time and Harry helped him to clear brush, plant trees and enforce the land clearing and wood cutting permit regulations held by men who were on script.
Although too young to vote by just over a week, Harry O'Brien worked as a scrutineer for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) during the 1935 Federal Election.
On October 12, 1940 Harry O'Brien married Gertrude Sutherland at St. John the Divine in Burnaby. The Sutherland family came to Burnaby from Winnipeg in 1933 and settled at Nelson Avenue.
Harry began his involvement with the Unemployment Organization in Burnaby by participating in an organised protest against the municipality for homeowner evictions brought on by unpaid taxes. The South Burnaby Union of the Unemployed organised in order to protest rules around receiving Relief. Harry became involved, eventually becoming one of the spearheads of the organization, taking over as secretary by 1936.
Harry was an original member of the Army of the Common Good, helping to produce over one hundred and twenty-five tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed Burnaby citizens suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The members of the Army of the Common Good who cut wood for consumption or worked in the gardens were given credit for their work through LU (Labour Units) which they could then use to buy groceries and that at the Army's Cooperative stores, one of which was at McKay Avenue, where Harry began working as Manager of Groceries in 1937. The Credit Union movement of British Columbia was also organized by Harry O'Brien and his fellow Army of the Common Good members.
W.H. "Harry" O'Brien died July 1, 1992.
Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.
Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.
Group photograph of seventeen children pictured outside. Alice Sparman in front row, far right, wearing dark jacket. In background: trees, hillside with scrub, and log cabin with woodpile. Shadow of photographer on lower right.
Group photograph of seventeen children pictured outside. Alice Sparman in front row, far right, wearing dark jacket. In background: trees, hillside with scrub, and log cabin with woodpile. Shadow of photographer on lower right.
Photograph of the Sparman family pictured outside with trees in background. Front row left to right: Alice Sparman, Nester Sparman holding May Sparman on lap, Lester Sparman, Marie Sparman. Back row left to right: Elizabeth Marie Sparman and Lillian "Lil" Sparman.
Photograph of the Sparman family pictured outside with trees in background. Front row left to right: Alice Sparman, Nester Sparman holding May Sparman on lap, Lester Sparman, Marie Sparman. Back row left to right: Elizabeth Marie Sparman and Lillian "Lil" Sparman.
Photograph of Mr. and Mrs. [G.R.] Heyworth and "Aunt Betty" outside standing outside Jubilee Drug Store, Jubilee Avenue and Imperial Street (later the location of Bonsor Park, 6550 Bonsor Avenue). An electric sign reads, "Rexall Drugs." A dog can be seen at the bottom of the photograph. An accom…
Photograph of Mr. and Mrs. [G.R.] Heyworth and "Aunt Betty" outside standing outside Jubilee Drug Store, Jubilee Avenue and Imperial Street (later the location of Bonsor Park, 6550 Bonsor Avenue). An electric sign reads, "Rexall Drugs." A dog can be seen at the bottom of the photograph. An accompanying letter describes the photo as "Dad with Mother and Aunt Betty. They had just walked back from Kingsway after seeing the King and Queen pass - 1937 [sic; the royal visit was in 1939]."
Photograph of Cram sister and brother, (left to right) Mary Cram and Tom Cram. In the background, on the left, is the house built by their father after he had subdivided some of the farm property. The property was located at Kingsway and what is now 6515 Denbigh Avenue.
Photograph of Cram sister and brother, (left to right) Mary Cram and Tom Cram. In the background, on the left, is the house built by their father after he had subdivided some of the farm property. The property was located at Kingsway and what is now 6515 Denbigh Avenue.
Photograph of 1929 and 1925 Kingsway (later renumbered 7255 Kingsway), Horace H. Palethorpe's real estate office, opposite the former Municipal Hall, Kingsway and Edmonds Street. The crowd is waiting for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on a royal visit.
Photograph of 1929 and 1925 Kingsway (later renumbered 7255 Kingsway), Horace H. Palethorpe's real estate office, opposite the former Municipal Hall, Kingsway and Edmonds Street. The crowd is waiting for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on a royal visit.
Photograph of Ruby Johnson riding her bicycle at Confederation Park. A note on the back of the photograph reads: "North Burnaby High School Sports Day / Confederation Pk. with B.N.H.S. and Willingdon (unpaved) Ave. in background. Ruby Johnson on her bicycle. (1939)."
Photograph of Ruby Johnson riding her bicycle at Confederation Park. A note on the back of the photograph reads: "North Burnaby High School Sports Day / Confederation Pk. with B.N.H.S. and Willingdon (unpaved) Ave. in background. Ruby Johnson on her bicycle. (1939)."
1 photograph : sepia ; 10 x 6 cm, mounted on board 15 x 27.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the store at 4147 Hastings Street that was used to house the North Burnaby Library from 1935 to 1939. Men and women are seen climbing onto a large bus that has been parked in front of the store.
1 photograph : sepia ; 10 x 6 cm, mounted on board 15 x 27.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
225-002
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1989-22
Scope and Content
Photograph of the store at 4147 Hastings Street that was used to house the North Burnaby Library from 1935 to 1939. Men and women are seen climbing onto a large bus that has been parked in front of the store.
Photograph of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's visit to Burnaby. A large group of spectators stand on either side of the street watching as the two royals pass by the Municipal Hall in a motorcade. Men and women are waving, many with hats in their raised hands and the Burnaby Municipal Hall…
Photograph of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's visit to Burnaby. A large group of spectators stand on either side of the street watching as the two royals pass by the Municipal Hall in a motorcade. Men and women are waving, many with hats in their raised hands and the Burnaby Municipal Hall has been adorned with Union Jacks and decorations.
Photograph of the chapel of the Order of St. Benedict at the Ceperley Mansion when they purchased and occupied the mansion from 1939 to 1954. They converted the drawing room into a chapel, placing the altar in front of the fireplace. A platform with a cross on a table. The letters "LOCUS ISTE SANCT…
Photograph of the chapel of the Order of St. Benedict at the Ceperley Mansion when they purchased and occupied the mansion from 1939 to 1954. They converted the drawing room into a chapel, placing the altar in front of the fireplace. A platform with a cross on a table. The letters "LOCUS ISTE SANCTUS EST" are inscribed on the wall above the cross. There is a picture of baby Jesus held by the Virgin Mary on one side of the platform, and a Saint holding a baby on the other.
Photograph of the front walk at the Ceperley Mansion, (Fairacres). The Order of St. Benedict purchased and occupied it from 1939 to 1954. The roadway is paved and the walkway is made of paving stones.
Photograph of the front walk at the Ceperley Mansion, (Fairacres). The Order of St. Benedict purchased and occupied it from 1939 to 1954. The roadway is paved and the walkway is made of paving stones.
Photograph of the New Haven Borstal Home for Boys and Youthful Offenders on George A. Grant's lawn, watching for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to travel along Kingsway as part of their visit to British Columbia. Everyone has flags in their hands, including the four men in suits that are accomp…
Photograph of the New Haven Borstal Home for Boys and Youthful Offenders on George A. Grant's lawn, watching for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to travel along Kingsway as part of their visit to British Columbia. Everyone has flags in their hands, including the four men in suits that are accompanying the reform school students.
Photograph of seventeen men and women on horseback, with their horses lined up in a row at the Burnaby Lake Riding Academy at the Lubbock farm, 3455 Grandview Highway (old street numbering system). The riders are; A.H. Trunkfield, Bob Trunkfield, unidentified, two Storer boys, Vern Ferrier, Leola L…
Photograph of seventeen men and women on horseback, with their horses lined up in a row at the Burnaby Lake Riding Academy at the Lubbock farm, 3455 Grandview Highway (old street numbering system). The riders are; A.H. Trunkfield, Bob Trunkfield, unidentified, two Storer boys, Vern Ferrier, Leola Legge, Dr. Coss, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, Alison Sutherland, Kay Trunkfield, unidenitifed, and Gaden Legge.
Photograph of Bud Oddy and Ainsly Lubbock jumping horses over a small fence, while a large crowd watches from the bleachers in the background. This photograph was taken at the Burnaby Lake Riding Academy at the Lubbock farm, 3455 Grandview Highway (old street numbering system). Ainsly Lubbock is t…
Photograph of Bud Oddy and Ainsly Lubbock jumping horses over a small fence, while a large crowd watches from the bleachers in the background. This photograph was taken at the Burnaby Lake Riding Academy at the Lubbock farm, 3455 Grandview Highway (old street numbering system). Ainsly Lubbock is the man wearing the fedora.
Photograph of nine men and women on horseback, with english tack and wearing english riding boots. They are outdoors at the Burnaby Lake Riding Academy at the Lubbock farm, 3455 Grandview Highway (old street numbering system).
Photograph of nine men and women on horseback, with english tack and wearing english riding boots. They are outdoors at the Burnaby Lake Riding Academy at the Lubbock farm, 3455 Grandview Highway (old street numbering system).