Q: In doing research at the Surrey Archives for a book about Green Timbers Urban Forest , I came across the following document: Green Timbers: an Advantageous Site for Simon Fraser University – A Brief Presented by the Corporation of the District of Surrey, April 1963; Prepared by Rawson Consultants Ltd.
Prior to settling on the current site in Burnaby, did the university planning authorities ever give consideration to Green Timbers as a possible site? If so, why was it rejected? May I have permission to quote your response in my manuscript?
A: Hello,
On page 41 of Hugh Johnston’s book, “Radical Campus: Making Simon Fraser University”, he states the following:
“Surrey identified 800 acres south and east of the Pattullo Bridge over the Fraser River, an area that has since been preserved as the Green Timbers Forest Reserve. Coquitlam promised 800 acres at Essondale, which survive today in their semi-natural state as Mundy Park.
To view these sites and the road systems that served them, Shrum took a slow-flying B.C. Hydro seaplane, an amphibious Grumman Goose, over the lower Fraser Valley (at Hydro expense). That gave him a bird’s-eye view of all the locations, but the Langley, Delta and Surrey sites never were in the running: they were too far east or south. The Coquitlam site was closer in an had potential; but Shrum had his mind set on Burnaby Mountain.”
Johnston, Hugh J. M. Radical campus: making Simon Fraser University. Vancouver, B.C.: Douglas & McIntyre, 2005; page 41.
For further explanation you may wish to contact Dr. Johnston at hjohnsto@sfu.ca .
Best regards,
Todd M. Mundle
Associate University Librarian