MSA Museum Society

MEET ABBOTSFORD'S PIONEER FAMILIES

Abbotsford’s population today is about 15 – 20% Indo-Canadian.  Many families have lived here since the turn of the last century.  This section highlights some of the stories of local families and recognizes the struggles they have had in Canada, as well as their triumphs. They have contributed and continue to contribute to the development of our City, Abbotsford; now British Columbia’s fifth largest city.

Sunder Singh, from the village of Daulatpur, Punjab, was one of the first Sikh farmers to establish himself in Abbotsford. He was the only son and the first of his family to leave India in search of better conditions. He arrived in B.C. in 1906 and worked for the Abbotsford Lumber Company and later started dairy farming. He was married to Harnam Kaur, a strong and active voice in the community.

IMAGE AND DESCRIPTION	PHOTO CAPTION
1939, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11908	Main Street, Vancouver, 1939.  (L-R) Mr. Anderson (the agent), Jassa Singh and Sunder Singh.  Sunder Singh had just purchased a new threshing machine, which is shown loaded on his truck.
1939, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11907	Sunder Singh on the left and Jassa Singh on the right, standing in front of a flatdeck truck. Taken on Main Street, Vancouver, when Sunder Singh "Joe", purchased a new threshing machine. Thresher on the back of the truck.
1939, Abbotsford, B.C., Canada P11910	Sunder Singh's crew unloading the tractor.
Abbotsford, B.C., Canada P11919	(L-R) Hari Singh, Ben Ratzlaff and Sunder Singh.  Ben Ratzlaff was a permanent employee of Sunder Singh's, and lived on the farm house provided by Sunder Singh.
1940, Abbotsford, B.C.,Canada P11912	Sunder Singh and Harnam Kaur's daughers, Hardial Kaur(foreground, with the Ratzlaff children) and Chanchal Kaur (background),watch Lawrence and Elmer Ratzlaff playing hockey on "Dead Man's Hole" in the winter of 1940.
1953,  B.C., Canada P11786	Full figure Thandi family portrait. Left to right; Sucha Thandi, Ossie Thandi, Harnam Kaur Thandi holding Gurdale Thandi, Gopal Singh Thandi, Sundar Singh Thandi, Jeeto Harbajan Kaur Thandi,Gurbachan Singh Thandi.
1953, B.C. Canada P11787	Head & shoulders portrait of Sucha Thandi, who arrived in Abbotsford from Daulatpur, Punjab in 1953.
B.C. Canada P11789	Thandi family portrait. Standing at the back is Gurdale Thandi. Seated at his right is Amarjete Thandi. The girl standing between the parents is Darshan Thandi. Seated at left is Kartar Thandi. Seated centre front is Palbinder Thandi. Others unknown.

TOP

ATMA SINGH RAI

Atma Singh Rai arrived in Yuba City, California in 1923 and in 1929, he crossed into British Columbia illegally.  After he was recognized as a Canadian resident in 1947, he sponsored his three children, Gian S. Rai, Harinderjit S. Rai and Harinderjit K. Rai, who arrived August 20, 1948.

IMAGE AND DESCRIPTION	PHOTO CAPTION
1927, Punjab, India P119875	Full figure portrait of Gian Rai, aged 4 years, sitting cross - legged. The photo was taken at Budhipind, District Hoshiarpur, Punjab, at Gian Rai's home.
1930, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11864	Head & upper torso portrait of Mr. Atma S. Rai. Atma Singh Rai arrived in Yuba City, California in 1923 and crossed into B. C. illegally in 1929. He worked at the Mayo Mills in Duncan for some time. After he was recognized as a Canadian resident in the 1940's.
1927 P11870	Head & upper torso portrait of Kartar Kaur (Chohan) Rai. The photo was taken at the time of her marriage at age 21 or 22. Budhipind was her maiden village
1936, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11868	Full torso portrait of Mr. & Mrs. Atma S. Rai. The portrait is a manipulated image in that Mrs. Rai's photo was taken in Bunga & Mr. Rai's was taken in Vancouver (probably the same day as P11869) and the two combined to form the portrait.
1936, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11869	Full figure portrait, Atma Singh Rai, at left, Atma S. Hundal, sitting, & Gurbachan S. Lahari, at right. The photo was probably taken in Vancouver. The men worked at Pt. Alberni mills.
1942 P11872	Full figure portrait of Gian Rai, seated between 2 standing children. At left is Gian Rai's brother "Pandit" whose real name is Harinderjit S. Rai. At the right is Gian's sister, Haranderjit K. Rai. (the same name as her brother)
1945, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11871	Full figure portrait of Atma S. Rai walking down Hastings Street in Vancouver.
1949, Chilliwack, B.C., Canada P11877	Head & full torso portrait of Karm & Gian Rai. Photo taken at Spencer Studio, Chilliwack.
1954, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11863	Full figure photo of a woman, Mrs. Karm Rai, holding the hand of her daughter, Rabina Rai, age 4 or 5 years. Taken at the P.N.E.
1955, New Westminister, B.C., Canada P11874	Full figure "Santa" picture of Rabina Rai, left, & Rabinder Rai, right, sitting on Santa's lap. Photo taken at the New Westminster Eaton's store.
1956 P11876	Full figure portrait of Rabinder Rai, age 5 or 6, left, & Rabina Rai, age 4 or 5, at right. The children are sitting side by side on a bench.
1965 B.C. Canada P11865	Head & shoulders portrait of Mrs. Karm Rai taken in 1964 or '65.
1966, Surrey, B.C., Canada P11873	Head & shoulders portrait of Rabinder Rai, 15 years old and in Grade 9. Photo taken at West Whalley, Surrey.

TOP

 

MANGLE SINGH GILL

Mangle Singh Gill arrived in B.C. in 1906 at 15 years of age.  He moved to the United States for many years because of greater opportunities for employment in that country.  He eventually married in India in 1930, and brought back his son Sewa Singh in 1947.

IMAGE AND DESCRIPTION	PHOTO CAPTION
1948, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11882	Full figure portrait of eight men, all from village Dhani Pind, Punjab. Left to right, standing: Naran S. Kooner (cousin of Mangle S. Gill, worked for a farmer in Richmond), Mangle S. Gill (of North Vancouver), Maha S. Kooner (of Vancouver) & Pritam S. Kooner (Hillcrest) Left to right, front row: Jarnail Singh Kooner (North Vancouver), Sewa Singh Gill (North Vancouver), Darshan Kooner (Vancouver), Sohen Singh Kooner (North Vancouver).
1949, Abbotsford, B.C., Canada P11885	Head & shoulders studio portrait of Lucy Tej (Koka) Gill & Sewa Gill, married in 1949 at the Abbotsford Gurdwara in a double ceremony with the bride's sister, Karm, & Gian Rai. Lucy Gill is a first generation Sikh-Canadian, being the daughter of one of the original Indo-Canadian settlers in the Sardis/Chilliwack region, Ran Singh.
1950, Sardis, B.C., Canada P11883	Full figure image of  Mangle Singh Gill, holding his grandson, Richard Malkit Gill, eldest son of Sewa & Tej Gill. Taken in the fall of 1950 at Cottonwood Corners, Sardis.
1952 P11884	Full figure family portrait of the Gill family. Left to right: Lucy Tej Gill holding Gary Gurdeep Gill, Sewa Singh Gill with Richard Malkit Gill & Mangle Singh Gill, Sewa Gill's father.

TOP

 

RAN SINGH KOKA

Ran Singh came to B.C. in 1905 at the age of 15.  He left India because a plague that swept his native village had taken the lives of his father, brothers and sisters.  He traveled back to India in 1922 and returned with his wife, Harnam Kaur, in 1925.  He is one of the earliest Sikh pioneers to settle in the Abbotsford and Chilliwack region.

IMAGE AND DESCRIPTION	PHOTO CAPTION
1931, Chilliwack, B.C., Canada P11866	Full torso image of taken in front of the Chilliwack General Hospital. Mrs. Harnam Kaur, left, & Mr. Ran S. Koka, right, with their two children, Karm, 3 years old, at left, & Tej (younger than Karm). Karm's married name would be Rai, and Tej's would be Gill.
1940, Sardis, B.C., Canada P11867	Sardis Elementary School class photo with students standing on the exterior steps. Two students identified: Karm Rai, 13 years, centre 2nd row from bottom & Tej Gill, 12 years, beside her, 3rd from right 2nd row from the bottom.
1949, Abbotsford, B.C., Canada P11886	Double wedding of Ran Singh's daughers (Karm and Tej) at the old Abbotsford Gurdwara. (L- R Back Row) Mrs. Harnam Kaur, Mangle S. Gill, Harinderjit S. Rai, Atma S. Rai, (Middle Row) Gladys Koka, Sewa Gill, Lucy Tej Gill, Gian Rai, Karm Rai; (Front Row) Ran Singh, Beverly Koka, Bob Koka, George Koka.
1961, Abbotsford, B.C., Canada P11878	Wedding photo of Gladys Koka & Tommy Biln. Left to right: Rabina Rai, George Koka, Bujeet Rai, Beverly Koka, Gladys Koka, Tommy Biln, Judy Koka, unidentified, unidentified. The wedding took place at the Abbotsford Gurdwara. Photo taken at Del Monte St
1963, Chilliwack, B.C., Canada P11879	Wedding photo of George Koka (son of Ran Singh) and Jito. Wedding took place at the Abbotsford Gurdwara. Photo was taken at the Spencer Studios, Chilliwack

TOP

 

PAUL SINGH DHALIWAL

In 1905/06, Paul Singh's father came to Canada to work in the lumber mills.  After three short years he returned to India, but his son, born May 14, 1914, would come to Canada on May 09, 1932.  Paul Singh was an active participant in sports, including grass hockey and wrestling.  In fact, he was such a good wrestler that a promoter hired him to compete professionally in the United States for three years.  He then returned to establish himself in Abbotsford, of which he has many recollections.

 

IMAGE AND DESCRIPTION	PHOTO CAPTION
1933/34 B.C., Canada P11845	Taken four miles from Duncan at Hillcrest ill.  Paul Singh Dhaliwal is holding a ball.  Baby, Jackie, was born a Lake Cowichan.
B.C., Canada P11842	(L-R) Back row - Balwant Singh and Jimmy;  Front row - Jack Singh, Harinder Singh, Monn Singh, Jangeer Mann,  Jant Singh, "Baba" Singh, Paul S. Dhaliwal, Sant S. Gill, and Kerhar S. Man.
1945 B.C.,Canada P11847	Head & shoulders portrait of Paul Singh Dhaliwal, 1940's. Paul Singh Dhaliwal arrived in Canada on May 9, 1932 when he was sixteen years old. He settled in Abbotsford but employment in mills took him to Squamish and Duncan. He played field hockey.
1952, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11846	Full figure family portrait of the Dhaliwal family taken at the Yucho Chow Studio, Vancouver. Paul Singh Dhaliwal holding daughter,Vicky Gurjeet Dhaliwal, with wife, Mohinder Kaur Dhaliwal.
1953 B.C., Canada P11848	Full figure portrait of donor, Vicky Dhaliwal, seated, aged 3 or 4 years.
1956, Mission, B.C., Canada, P11854	(L-R) Full figure image of Kapoor Singh, Gurdev Dhaliwal, Vicky's cousin, and Baljit Singh. There is an unidentified toddler standing in front of them.
1956, Mission Flats, B.C., Canada P11849	Baljit Singh, centre foreground with his back to the camera. Gurdev Dahliwal, also back to camera, beside pickup truck. Beehive burner in background. Mission flats.
1956, Mission Flats, B.C., Canada P11850	(L-R) Three men, Kapoor Singh, Gurdev Dhaliwal & Baljit Singh. Baljit is holding an unidentified toddler
1956, Mission Flats, B.C., Canada P11851	Full figure image of two men standing on either side of a woman. Left to right: Kapoor Singh, Raj Kaur (Vicky's mother's cousin) & Baljit Singh. Baljit is holding an unidentified toddler.
1956, Mission, B.C., Canada P11852	Full figure image of Kapoor Singh & Gurdev Dhaliwal. Gurdev is holding the unidentified toddler.
1956, Mission, B.C., Canada P11853	Full figure image of Baljit Singh. Mission Flats.

TOP

 

PIONEER PHOTOGRAPHS

 

IMAGE AND DESCRIPTION	PHOTO CAPTION
1929 Canada P8276	Funeral of Daya Singh, Sikh priest. Widow standing beside casket.
P11938	Head & shoulders portrait of Jaimal Singh Sidhu, son of Maston Singh Sidhu, born in 1874 in Dhade village, Sangrur district, Punjab. Arrived in Canada August 1, 1906 on the Empress of Japan at the Port of Vancouver.
1926 P11934	Full figure portrait of Lakha Singh Sidhu, son of Jaimal Singh Sidhu.
1926 Canada P11935	Class photo. Lakha Singh Sidhu  top row - far left.
1936, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11929	Two men, Lakha Singh Sidhu on the left & Maghar Singh Rai on the right, best friends.
1940 P11926	Full torso portrait of Tara Singh, donor's grandfather, born July 14, 1875 in Lakh Pur village, Jalandhar, Punjab.
1940 P11931	Full figure portrait of one boy & 5 men standing side by side. Left to right: Gureeb Singh Rai, Maghar Singh Rai, Lakha Singh Sidhu, Unknown, Unknown, & Karm Singh. Photo taken outdoors.
1940 P11932	Full figure portrait of 4 men. Left to right: Maghar Singh Rai, Bakshish Singh, Tara Singh Kohnee & Lakha Singh Sidhu.
1944, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11930	Full figure portrait of husband, Lakha Singh Sidhu & wife Tej Kaur Sidhu, taken outdoors.
1944, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11928	Two small children, brother & sister, Harcharan Singh Sidhu & Joginder Kaur Sidhu, standing in front of a car.
1945, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11937	House at No. 5 W. 6th Avenue, Vancouver. Sitting on the steps of the house are, left to right: Amar (Mary) Kaur Rai - wife of Maghur Singh Rai, Joginder Kaur Sidhu, Harcham Singh Sidhu, Tej Kaur Sidhu.
1946 P11933	Full figure portrait of the Sidhu family. Left to right: Harcham Singh Sidhu, born January 22, 1942 in Vancouver. Lakha Singh Sidhu, born October 1, 1911 in Dhade, Punjab. Naginder Singh Sidhu, born January 30, 1946 in Vancouver. Tej Kaur Sidhu, holding baby, and Joginder Kaur Sidhu.
1956, Jalandhar, Punjab, India P11891	Full figure portrait of Mr. Gurdial Singh Powar, standing, & three other people, one older woman, & two boys, all sitting. Taken in Jullinder, Punjab before Mr. Powar came to Canada.
1965, Jalandhar, Punjab, India P11888	Head and shoulders portrait of Gurdial Singh Powar on a post-migration visit to India.
1960, Abbotsford, B.C., Canada P11773	Head & shoulders portrait of Fateh Chand who arrived in Canada in 1960. The photo was taken before Mr.Chand cut his hair and shaved his beard the day after arriving in Canada. Collected during the Canadian Image Project to document the history of  Indo-Canadians in Abbotsford.
1960, Abbotsford, B.C., Canada P11772	Full figure portrait of 3 men, one sitting, flanked by 2 other standing. Left to right: Baldev Chand, Hans Raj Chand & Fateh Chand. Collected during the Canadian Image Project to document the history of the Indo Canadian community in Abbotsford.
1950, Vancouver, B.C., Canada P11887	Funeral of Naran Singh Kooner in Vancouver (41st. & Fraser).  Mourners standing in a semi-circle around the casket.

TOP