That's So Library!

With so much construction continuing around Burnaby campus it seemed like a good opportunity to think about street names. Over its history BCIT has been home to many inspiring people. Current streets around Burnaby campus are named after some of these people as well as men who were early influencers in technical training in this province. Too many people to mention in a single blog post; I have already published BCIT Burnaby Campus Street Names: A little history of BCIT the first part [1 of 2] I hope you enjoy the second part.

I noticed a trend while writing and researching this post so decided to start with some brief biographies of people not honoured with a street name. Do you need to be a white man to have street named in your honour? If not, BCIT has a number of remarkable students, educators and influencers in its rich 50+ year history:

Barbara Kozier was a Nurse, author and educator who had a longstanding position in the Nursing program at BCIT, eventually becoming the Department Head for Health Care Services at BCIT. She authored the seminal nursing textbook Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process & Practice (now in its 10th edition) as well as several other important nursing textbooks.

 

Judy Monroe (nee Monk) was BCIT’s first valedictorian in 1966 when she graduated from the Hotel and Restaurant Management Program. Monroe was the first Secretary of the Student Council and was instrumental in initiating what is now the BCIT Student Association and running the first student council election way back in 1964. She taught night school for a couple of years at BCIT as one way of giving back. She went on to manage the Facilities Department of the Portland Oregon Zoo.

Feel free to use the comments below to name more amazing BCIT personalities that deserve to be recognized. I am keen to learn from the community and hear your suggestions.

 

Fairey Avenue was named after Col. Francis Fairey, Provincial Director of Technical Education who became Deputy Minister.  A teacher by profession, Fairey served as a Liberal member of the House of Commons from 1953 to 1957 and was instrumental in promoting technical education.  After his retirement, he headed World Commissions on technical education; one in Japan, and one in Africa.

Lister Avenue was named after J. George Lister , first principal of Vancouver Technical School (1916-1930) and one of the promoters of the Federal Technical Education Act of 1918; an Act which provided $10 million for technical education.

Sinclair Walk was named after James Sinclair, second of Principal of Vancouver Technical High School (1930-1944), Vancouver’s first technical school, also known as Van Tech. Sinclair Walk no longer appears on our maps – I’m not entirely sure when it disappeared.

Kyle Street was named after John Kyle, the Director of Technical Education for the Province of British Columbia, between 1914 and 1938.  For a time Guichon Creek was known as Kyle Creek.

Guichon Alley references Guichon Creek which exists under most of our campus in a pipe. Guichon Creek is named after Laurent Guichon who owned a hunting cabin at Willingdon Ave. and Price St. in the late 1890s. Plans to daylight North Guichon creek and create a green corridor through the campus are slowly moving forward and can be seen in long term plans of BCIT Burnaby Campus.

With so much construction continuing around Burnaby campus it seemed like a good opportunity to think about street names. Over its history BCIT has been home to many inspiring people. Current streets around Burnaby campus are named after some of these people as well as men who were early influencers in technical training in this province. Too many people to mention in a single blog post; watch for BCIT Burnaby Campus Street Names: A little history of BCIT the second part [2 of 2].

I noticed a trend while writing and researching this post so decided to start with some brief biographies of people not honoured with a street name. Do you need to be a white man to have street named in your honour? If not, BCIT has a number of remarkable students, educators and influencers in its rich 50+ year history:

Margaret Briscall, BCom, MBA, FCPA, FCMA. When Briscall retired from BCIT after more than 35 years she was BCIT Associate Dean Financial Management. Briscall played a significant role in establishing BCIT’s Financial Management department, within the School of Business, beginning her career there as one of the first female instructors hired at BCIT in early 1965 to develop the second year business courses. She was delighted with the move to BCIT as she would get a pay increase by leaving UBC. In her two previous positions, at BC Electric and at UBC, there were separate pay scales for men and women doing the same job – at BCIT she would be paid equally. In 1978 she became the first female president of the BCIT Staff Society, representing the interests of a predominantly male faculty. Briscall was universally respected for her forthrightness, integrity, commitment to the students and experience in the field. She was a CGA national examiner for many decades and became a fellow of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada in 1984 and a Lifetime Member for the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC in 2001.

 

Elder Bob George (1923-2014) of Coast Salish, Tsleil-Waututh Nation was BCIT’s first Indigenous Elder in residence and a rock for many who attended BCIT over the ten years that he held this position.  In 2005 BCIT presented George with an honourary doctorate.

Feel free to use the comments below to name more amazing BCIT personalities that deserve to be recognized. I have researched a few more deserving personalities for Part 2. I am keen to learn from the community and hear your suggestions.

Roper Avenue was named after Cecil E. Roper (1914-1996), the first Principal of BCIT (1962-1967). A provincial Advisory Council[1][2], made up of industry executives, recruited Roper from the Faculty of Commerce at UBC as the first Principal of BCIT. Roper, trained as a mining engineer, had earned an MBA after 20 years in the mining industry. Well connected to the world of BC industry, and equally well connected at UBC, he was able to attract faculty and staff from both arenas to work and volunteer for BCIT in its earliest days.

English Street was named after Dr. J. F. K. English, Deputy Minister and Superintendent of Education of the province of BC. Dr. English was appointed Chairman of BCIT’s first Advisory Council.

Goard Way was named after Dean Goard (1909-1986), the second Principal of BCIT (1967-1974). In 1939 he began his teaching career at the Vancouver Technical School. He was a Chemist who was educated at UBC where he also did the teacher training program. Previous to his appointment at BCIT Goard was assistant director at Vancouver Community College and Assistant Director of Adult Education at the Vancouver School Board. After his retirement from BCIT he went on to be University Affairs Director for the province of BC.

Ford Street was named after Dr. C. Ross Ford, Director of Technical Training Branch of the Federal Department of Labour.  Dr. Ford was not directly involved with BCIT but he was instrumental in the establishment of technical institutions across Canada.

Carey Avenue was named after Ralph Carey, long- standing member of the first BCIT Advisory Council.

Smith Avenue was named after Lorne Smith, second Principal of BC Vocational School (BCVS). BCVS became the Pacific Vocational Institute (PVI) in 1978 and merged with BCIT in 1986.

I hope you learned something and enjoyed Part 1 of the Street Names of BCIT Burnaby Campus.

[1] 1961: An Advisory Council was formed to begin planning the proposed BCIT. Dr. J. English, Deputy Minister and Superintendent of Education was appointed chairman and  J. S. White, Director of Technical and Vocational Education, vice-chair.

[2] Between 1961 and 1974, BCIT was controlled and funded directly by the BC Department of Education, in partnership with an Advisory Council chosen from business and industry. The roles of the Advisory Council included:

• To advise the Minster of Education on the operation of BCIT in particular
• Approve faculty and technical support staff appointments
• Approve scholarships and assist in obtaining financial donations from industry
• Advise on major policy
• Advise on new building requirements
• Approve educational programs or extension of existing programs