Sawmill workers

Photograph of sawmill workers from the Lake Cowichan and Duncan area. The men in the photo are from various ethnic backgrounds. There is a building and trees visible in the background.

Audio interview with Dyal Singh Gill conducted by MB. Dyal Singh Gill is a Canadian citizen who came to Canada in 1942. His first job in Canada was in Honeymoon Bay on Vancouver Island. He also discusses his educational background, personal history, working in sawmills and his challenges. Dyal also discusses the foods he ate, as well as the treatment he received from the dominant European White settler community. He also mentions special occasions he attended such as Christmas, Vaisakhi, and Jor Mela at Paldi. Gill further discusses how the cost of living has increased from before.

Transcription of an interview with Dyal Singh Gill in which he discusses his educational background, personal history, working in sawmills and his challenges. Dyal also discusses the foods he ate, as well as the treatment he received from the dominant European White settler community. He also mentions special occasions he attended such as Christmas, Vaisakhi, and Jor Mela at Paldi. Gill further discusses how the cost of living has increased from before.

Dyal Singh Gill's narrative discusses his immigration to Canada, working in the lumber industry, his challenges and good experiences. Dyal also mentions the food he ate and his living costs compared to today.

Audio interview with Dogar Singh Bains conducted by KS. Dogar Singh Bains is a Canadian citizen who came to Canada in 1932. His first job in Canada was in a farm in Vancouver. He then later began working in mills on Vancouver Island. He also discusses his personal history, sponsorship to Canada and working in sawmills. He further discusses how the sawmill company built them a Gurdwara. Bains also mentions living in bunkhouses and the food that was served in the cookhouse. Towards the end of the interview he mentions his family and a special memory.

Transcription of interview with Dogar Singh Bains discusses his personal history, sponsorship to Canada and working in sawmills. He also discusses how the sawmill company built them a Gurdwara. Bains further mentions living in bunkhouses and the food that was served in the cookhouse. Towards the end of the interview he mentions his family and a special memory.

Dogar Singh Bains's narrative discusses his personal history, marriage, and working in the lumber industry. Bains also discusses his wages and the diversity of his co-workers. He also discusses helping create a Gurdwara in his community, living in bunkhouses and the food that was served in bunkhouses. Dogar also mentions his family including his children and community celebrations that he would attend in his spare time.

Audio file of an interview with Davinder Singh Dolla conducted by MB. Davinder Dolla is a Canadian citizen who came to Canada in 1959. His first job was in a farm in Vancouver. He also discusses his immigration history, working in both mills and farms, working as a chipper on the sawmill, and learning welding. Dolla also discusses his challenges and life in Canada.

Transcription of interview with Davinder Singh Dolla who discusses his immigration history, working in both mills and farms, working as a chipper on the sawmill, and learning welding. Dolla also discusses his challenges and life in Canada.

Davinder Singh Dolla's narrative includes his immigration to Canada, working in both farms and mills and learning welding. Davinder also mentions how working sawmills was hard work.