The original Burnaby South High School was replaced in 1993 and the new Burnaby South Secondary School and BC Provincial School for the Deaf was built at this location. This school was built with the latest technology and modern equipment to ensure it was fully accessible and offers integrated academic, social and recreational activities for its students.
The primarily single-family subdivision and development in the Clinton-Glenwood Neighbourhood occurred during the building boom of the 1950s. Later development fell under the guidelines established in the Royal Oak Community Plan (adopted in 1999) and resulted in an increase in the number of multi-family units.
With the increasing settlement on the south slope between Kingsway and Marine Drive following World War Two, the old two-room school of Riverway East was considered inadequate so in 1948, the Clinton Elementary School opened. Clinton was to be the prototype of post-war elementary schools in Burnaby. It had no basement, no second storey and no high stairways. Classrooms were built in line and easily added as needed. Clinton had additions in 1950, 1951, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1967 and 1973.
Andy Digney built the speedway in South Burnaby in 1948. He was approached by the B.C. Midget Auto Racing Association, who were looking for a good location to race the smaller, racing cars, popular at the time. Digney owned property in the vicinity of present-day Metrotown that was centrally located and easily accessible via the interurban railway. Motorcycles were also raced in the early days of the track. In 1949, when the popularity of midget racing declined, Digney started racing roadsters. However, he struggled to find local drivers, and it was expensive to bring in drivers from elsewhere. In 1951 Digney found a winner: jalopy racing. Local men would buy 1930s cars and strip them down, remove the glass, and weld the doors shut. By early 1952 over forty cars were showing up for jalopy races. By the early 1950s the Speedway was well established, with coverage in the sports pages and on radio. The track closed down in 1958 when Andy retired.
Glenwood Elementary School was built in 1956 to replace Riverway East School. Additions to the school were made in 1966 and 1969. Decreasing enrolment led to the school closure by 1980, but it was re-opened 1994.
Designed to simulate a Norman cottage, the most distinctive feature of this eclectic bungalow is its round entrance tower with a conical shaped roof. Other distinctive features include rolled roof edges clad with steam-bent shingles to resemble a thatched roof, and round-arched windows surrounded with initiation voussoirs. The traditional character reflects the Storybook Cottage movement popular in the years between the two World Wars. It was built for Vincent Esmond Dodd (1913-1985), a plumber and electrician, and his wife Edna Mary Dodd (née Engeseth). Edna continued to live in the house after Vincent’s death in 1985.
This home was built in 1925 by William Leslie Burdick (1878-1937) and Esther Robina Burdick (née Armstrong, 1875-1964) who came to Burnaby from Manitoba to retire. Burdick was a prominent Winnipeg real estate agent; he retired in 1923, and contracted “Sleeping Sickness” the following year, which likely prompted a move to the more temperate west coast. Burdick became Reeve of Burnaby in 1929 and pressed for the development of the Deer Lake area as a great park featuring such amenities as a racetrack and water sports. During his tenure, this Craftsman-style home was regarded as a Burnaby showplace. He died in 1937 and Esther lived in this house until her own death in 1964. While the exterior of the house has been altered by a later coat of stucco over the original siding, it retains many original features such as its full-width verandah with tapered granite columns and piers, and stone-clad foundations and chimney.
Photograph of a multi-storey house located at 5990 Irmin Street. The photograph depicts of the exterior of the house at dusk; a light is on in one of the house's rooms and a vehicle is parked in the house's driveway next to a portable garage. A "For Sale" sign on the edge of the property reads: "Fu…
Photograph of a multi-storey house located at 5990 Irmin Street. The photograph depicts of the exterior of the house at dusk; a light is on in one of the house's rooms and a vehicle is parked in the house's driveway next to a portable garage. A "For Sale" sign on the edge of the property reads: "Future Development Land." Another house is visible in the background. The house was constructed in 1923 and is nearby to 7530 Buller Avenue.
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey house located at 7530 Buller Avenue. The photograph depicts the house at dusk; the house stands behind a wooden fence and is surrounded by trees. The house was constructed in 1924 and was formerly known as "Ryverbrae," the William & Esther Burdick Residenc…
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey house located at 7530 Buller Avenue. The photograph depicts the house at dusk; the house stands behind a wooden fence and is surrounded by trees. The house was constructed in 1924 and was formerly known as "Ryverbrae," the William & Esther Burdick Residence.
Photograph of the Armitage family home at 1925 Buller Avenue (later renumbered 7342 Buller Avenue) in the Highland Park area. This was the third Armitage home. Edna Armitage and Joe Rigby held their wedding reception here in 1931.
Photograph of the Armitage family home at 1925 Buller Avenue (later renumbered 7342 Buller Avenue) in the Highland Park area. This was the third Armitage home. Edna Armitage and Joe Rigby held their wedding reception here in 1931.
Photograph of the Armitage family home at 3276 Buller Avenue (later renumbered 7342 Buller Avenue) in the Highland Park Area. This fourth Armitage family home was built by Albert Armitage and his brother. It was a much larger house than its predecessor on the same lot.
Photograph of the Armitage family home at 3276 Buller Avenue (later renumbered 7342 Buller Avenue) in the Highland Park Area. This fourth Armitage family home was built by Albert Armitage and his brother. It was a much larger house than its predecessor on the same lot.
Photograph of the Bezanson brothers, Charlie and Albert. The boys are shown with a homemade bobsled used to careen down Royal Oak Road hill past Oakalla.
Photograph of the Bezanson brothers, Charlie and Albert. The boys are shown with a homemade bobsled used to careen down Royal Oak Road hill past Oakalla.
Photograph of the Bezanson family home (of Albert and Margaret Bezanson), 1407 Royal Oak Avenue and Portland Street (later renumbered 7883 Royal Oak Avenue). To the left is the Ericksons' family home; Mr. and Mrs. Erickson were Margaret Bezanson's parents. Note the gravelled Royal Oak Road.
Photograph of the Bezanson family home (of Albert and Margaret Bezanson), 1407 Royal Oak Avenue and Portland Street (later renumbered 7883 Royal Oak Avenue). To the left is the Ericksons' family home; Mr. and Mrs. Erickson were Margaret Bezanson's parents. Note the gravelled Royal Oak Road.
Item is a digitized silent film segment identified as Reel 16. The film footage shows land being cleared to make way for the Digney Speedway located near the corner of Irmin Street and MacPherson Avenue, one of the men seen in this footage clearing the land is named Lucky Fordham. The film continue…
Item is a digitized silent film segment identified as Reel 16. The film footage shows land being cleared to make way for the Digney Speedway located near the corner of Irmin Street and MacPherson Avenue, one of the men seen in this footage clearing the land is named Lucky Fordham. The film continues with footage of a press dinner in the garden of Andy Digney's home on Bonsor Avenue in Burnaby and is followed with footage of the Digney Speedway in operation for the grand opening on July 8, 1948. Midget cars and jalopies (stock cars) can be seen racing on the speedway. Some of the footage of the raceway pit and races switches to black and white.The film closes with colour footage of a truck moving Lucky Fordham's house from Bonsor Ave to the speedway.