Langstroth, Kathleen and McDonald, Coleen oral history interview

McDonald and Langstroth were the daughters of a New Westminster longshoreman, and have lived in the city their entire lives. Their father became a longshoreman during the Second World War, and was president of the longshore pensioners association union. The women are current teachers in Delta and Coquitlam, but will be retiring soon. In the interview they describe vivid memories from their childhoods in New Westminster including dressing up to visit Woodward’s Department Store, visiting the weekly farmers market with their mother, and listening to CKNW radio for the announcement of the May Day Queen. The interviewees provide detailed descriptions of stores along Columbia St. and observations on how the “feel” of the city changed with recent residential redevelopment.The interview was conducted as part of History 461 – Oral History Practicum at Simon Fraser University.