File consists of records created and accumulated by Gary Runka over the course of his consultancy work for White Lake Ranch Ltd. for the "Ranch Land Use Consultation" project in Kaleden. This file was numbered as G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd. client file #102; that client number may be seen referenced elsewhere in the G. Gary Runka fonds. The Land Sense Ltd. client files generally include records such as correspondence, contracts, invoices, project reports, publications, ephemera, memoranda, maps or map excerpts, legal documents, meeting materials, clippings, and handwritten notes.
Item is an original "Jasper National Park Management Plan Review Comment Form" for Parks Canada.
This CD-ROM contains the digital publication "Issues, Trends and Concerns about Agricultural Nutrient Management in the Lower Fraser Valley" by H. Schreier, R. Bestbier, G. Derksen and P. Brisbin. Software install on a compatible computer is required to access the content. Annotation on case: "This multimedia CD-ROM highlights the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients, namely nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, within 20 Management Units in the Lower Fraser Valley. Five year trends in animal numbers (1986-1996) and trends in nutrient balances between 1991 and 1996 were determined. Scenarios were developed to evaluate nutrient surplus areas that have the potential to pollute surface and groundwater resources."
Item is an original copy of the Phase 1 research report "Inventory of Agricultural Land Reserves in British Columbia" by the Select Standing Committee on Agriculture of the BC Legislative Assembly.
Item is an original copy of "Intermountain Wetland Conservation Program Prospectus: A Partnership for Environmental Stewardship and Land Use Sustainability" by Ducks Unlimited Canada.
Item is an original copy of "Interior Program Feasibility Study: A report submitted to Dr. W. D. Kitts, Dean of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences by the Dean's Interior Program Committee". The report was prepared in consultation with G. G. Runka Land Sense Ltd.
File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Integrated Natural Resource Management" to the 4th Annual BC Mine Reclamation Symposium in Vernon, BC.
File consists of records relating to the Conference on Integrated Management of Resources in Vancouver, November 2-4, 1978, at which Gary Runka chaired a session in his role as Chairman of the BC Agricultural Land Commission. Includes correspondence, speaking notes, conference material, and attendee resumes.
File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka at UBC entitled "Integrated Land Use - BC Experience".
Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"The speech provides insight into GGR's concept of integrated land use as opposed to multiple land use.
Agriculture noted as often the 'primary use for land designated in the ALR'. On page 5 GGR reflects on this concept when stating that integrated land use planning is a useful first step "... to indicate the primary physical capability of each landform based on inherent soil and climatic characteristics".
The speech was accompanied by slides."
Item is an original booklet entitled "Indian Land Claims in British Columbia" by First Nations Congress.
Item is a pamphlet entitled "Index of Soil Surveys in British Columbia 1993".
Item is a photocopied the "Hotnarko L.R.U.P." document produced by the Chilcotin Forest District in 1989.
This CD-ROM contains History of Agricultural Land Reserve presentations.
This CD-ROM contains a "History of the Agricultural Land Reserve" presentation from March 2003.
DVD disc contains two documents:
- "KCB Design Update for L-L Dam Crest Elevation 1279 m.pdf"
- "Piteau 2605-R02-FINAL_Revised_Sep2010.pdf" which is a Piteau Associates report for the Highland Valley Copper mine at Logan Lake regarding "Open Pit Geotechnical Assessments and Slope Design Criteria for the Lornex Pit L16 Expansion"
This CD-ROM contains digital records collected by Gary Runka during his consultancy work for client job 663, Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council's "Consultation on Tech-Highland Valley Mining Permit Amendments" project. Includes a single report prepared for Teck Highland Valley Copper Partnership by Klohn Crippen Berger entitled "Highland Tailings Storage Facility: 2010 Annual Review of Tailings Dams".
File consists of G. Gary Runka's high school records.
Item is an original supplement to Valley Echo entitled "Height-of-the-Rockies Wilderness Area: A vision realized" created by the British Columbia Forest Service.
This external hard drive contains back-up files from Gary Runka and Joan Sawicki's computers. The digital files consist of personal, professional, and business records. Includes textual documents (PDF and Word format), spreadsheets (Excel), digital images (JPEG), and email backup files.
Item is a computer printout of the "Haida Gwaii Queen Charlotte Islands Heritage Tourism Strategy" by the Heritage Tourism Strategy Working Group.
File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Habitat, Land Use Planning, Economics and the Land Owner" to the 43rd Federal-Provincial Wildlife Conference in Regina.
File includes original and photocopied copies of "GWAII HAANAS National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site Management Plan for the Terrestrial Area" plus Public Planning Program newsletters 1, 2, & 3 by the Archipelago Management Board for Government of Canada and Council of Haida Nation.
Item is an original BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources publication entitled "Guide to Placer Staking".
Item is an original copy of "Guide to First Nations Tourism in British Columbia", a project of Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council in Cranbrook, BC.
Item is an original National Research Council Canada Technical Memorandum 44 entitled "Guide to Field Description of Muskeg".
This DVD contains a documentary entitled "Growth Rings: 100 Proud Years of Canadian Forestry".
Item is an original BC Department of Agriculture publication entitled "Growing Filberts in the Fraser Valley".
This CD-ROM contains a PDF format "Green Bylaws Toolkit for Conserving Sensitive Ecosystems and Green Infrastructure" prepared by Environmental Law Clinic, University Faculty of Law, and Deborah Curran & company for the Wetland Stewardship Partnership.
File consists of correspondence, meeting minutes, and pamphlets regarding the work of the Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia.
Item is an original Canada Department of Agriculture Publication 1319 entitled "Grassland Ranges in the Southern Interior of British Columbia".
Item is a pamphlet entitled "Good Neighbour Farming: B.C.'s New Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act".
Item is a photocopied version of "Gitga'at Land Use Plan: Summary Working Draft" by Gitga'at First Nation from November 2003.
Floppy consists of G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd. client file records for jobs.
Floppy directories and file listing:
- TRASH
- !LANDSEN.EPS
- !LANDSEN.TIF
- BACKUP
Floppy consists of G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd. client file records for jobs.
Floppy directories and file listing:
- BROCH
- CLIENT.97
- CLIENT.98.doc
- COMPANY.97
- COMPANY.98.doc
- GGRBIO.98.doc
- PERSONEL.97
- PROJECTS.97
- PROJECTS.98.doc
- SERVICES.97
- AUTHOR.EXP
- BROCH.STY
- CLIENT96.LST
- COMPANY.95
- GGR.BIO
- PROFILE.GGR
- PROJ96.LST
- SERVICES.95
Series consists of the business records of G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd., Gary Runka's consultancy business (co-owned with Joan Sawicki until 1991). G.G. Runka Land Sense Limited was incorporated as a company on 30 Nov. 1978 and dissolved on 30 Nov. 2018. Most business activity ceased after Gary Runka's death in July 2013. The company provided comprehensive professional services in land inventory, environmental assessment, integrated resource management, land and water use conflict resolution and interdisciplinary land use planning. Over the course of the company's operation, Gary Runka and his firm consulted on 681 assignments ranging from very large projects (such as the Site C project) to small residential/commercial land capability assessments.
The records within this series include company information documents, company client and project lists, and an early company accounting ledger. Also included are Runka's business "Communications Planners", which include a page for every business contact with summarized notes about communication with that individual; these provide a very detailed record of company business.
File consists of selected background and resource material collected by Gary Runka relating to agriculture and environment topics. Includes:
- The British Columbia Cattlemen's Association (BCCA) Cattle Loss Survey for 2010, 2011, and 2012
- "West Chilcotin Gardens" farm information
- "British Columbia Premises Identification (BCPID) Registration of Livestock and Poultry Premises"
- "BC Angus Association Breeder Directory 2010-2011" booklet
- "The Hereford Influence" Spring 2011 publication of the British Columbia Hereford Association
- "Growing Forward" newsletter
- "Guidelines for Dealing with Compromised Cattle, Sheep & Goats"
- "BC-Verified Beef Production Program Newsletter" issues produced by BCCA's BC-VBP Program
- 2009 Horse Council BC Equine Industry Study survey
- Issues of "CCIA News" newsletter of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency
- "Canadian Johne's Disease Initiative - Beef Cattle" pamphlet
- "Agriculture Wildlife Program: Wildlife Damage to Standing Forage" pamphlet
File consists of selected background and resource material collected by Gary Runka relating to agriculture and environment topics. Includes:
- "Water Wise Plant Guide for this Area" pamphlet by Water Wise, a Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society Project
- "Producing Livestock for Meat in British Columbia: Regulations and Resources" pamphlet from the BC Food Processors Association (March 2008)
- Colour computer printout of "The British Columbia Agriculture Plan"
- "Enhanced Animal Health Protection from BSE: Requirements for Canadian Cattle Producers" bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow) pamphlet from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- "BC-Verified Beef Production Program Newsletter" issues produced by BCCA's BC-VBP Program
- "A Guide to Age Verification" pamphlet from the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency
- "BSE Surveillance Testing" bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow) 2006 pamphlet from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Cattle Industry Development Council (CIDC) newsletter
- "CCIA News" newsletter of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency
File consists of selected background and resource material collected by Gary Runka relating to agriculture and environment topics. Includes:
- "Rural Resource Guide for Beef Producers" pamphlet
- "BSE Surveillance Testing" bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow) pamphlet from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- British Columbia Cattlemen's Association (BCCA) communication regarding the 2004 Beef Industry Survey
- BCCA Newsletter issues
- BCCA information pamphlet "B.C. Wild Predator Loss Control & Compensation Program for Cattle
- Canadian Cattlemen's Association "BSE and the Beef Cattle Industry Strategy for Recovery" information releases Fall 2003 and Fall 2004
- "Fishing for Trouble" June 2003 column by Wendy Holm in Country Life in BC
- Issues of the "Growing Together" newsletter from the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia
- British Columbia Agri-Tourism information bulletin Fall/Winter 2002
- "BC Country Fairs 2003 Schedule" pamphlet
- "Growing Places: Classroom Ideas and Agriculture Resources for British Columbia Educators" Winter 2003 issue
- "BC Raspberries" pamphlet
- "2002-2003 Fraser Valley Farm Direct Marketing Association Farm Fresh Guide"
- "Discover Chilliwack's Agri-Tourism Attractions" pamphlet
File consists of selected background and resource material collected by Gary Runka relating to agriculture and environment topics. Includes:
- Dan Wiebe's draft "Presentation to Agricultural Advisory Committee of the Township of Langley" (17 May 2001)
- "Northern Grass Seed Development" (Spring 2001)
- Email about Agri-Food Futures Fund
- "A History of Change: The Next Decade for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries" (9 May 2001)
- Winter 2001 issue of the "Growing Together: The Agriculture and Environment Connection" newsletter co-produced by various BC government bodies
- "Canada's Beef Industry Fast Facts"
File consists of selected background and resource material collected by Gary Runka relating to agriculture and environment topics. Includes:
- GRVD bulletin on "Greater Vancouver's Agriculture"
- "Farm Fresh Products Guide 2000" published by the Southern Vancouver Island Direct Farm Marketing Association
- Informational newspaper for the International Bison Conference 2000 in Edmonton
- Winter 2000 issue of the "Growing Together: The Agriculture and Environment Connection" newsletter co-produced by various BC government bodies
File consists of selected background and resource material collected by Gary Runka relating to agriculture and environment topics. Includes:
- BC Forest Service pamphlet "Industrial / Agricultural Burning: General Guide to Responsible Burning"
- "Wildlife Damage Control in Agricultural Areas of British Columbia" pamphlet
- "Bird Netting - Catch the Profits : A Blueberry Production Factsheet" from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food
- Spring 1999 issue of "Agriculture in the Classroom"
- An internet printout of the November 1998 "Agricultural Lease Review Report"
- Pamphlet for the "British Columbia Whole Farm Insurance Pilot Program (WFIP)"
- Photocopy of the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food "Strategic Plan 1997-1998"
- Printout of 11 June 1999 news article "Sawicki Calls for Stricter Food Safety Measures, Gets Promise of Labelling Legislation"
- Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) Grain Transportation Fact Sheet about grain freight rates
- Pamphlet for "The BCARA Organic Certification Program"
File consists of selected background and resource material collected by Gary Runka relating to agriculture and environment topics. Includes:
- BC Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food "Fast Facts" pamphlet
- Fall 1997 issue of "Strengthening Farming", a periodical of the BC Provincial Agricultural Land Commission
- A photocopy of the "Census of Agriculture 1996 and Historical Comparisons - B.C. Summary" from the BC Ministry of Agriculture
- Material for the Agricultural Land Symposium: Food, Farms and the Future: A Symposium on Farm Classification, Taxation and Assessment and the Use of Farmland
- "Celebrating Agriculture in Greater Vancouver September 14 to October 15, 1997" pamphlet
- List of "Alternate Crops - Plantlist of Potentials for British Columbia" by Al Oliver (July 1996)
- "Farm Population" bulletin from the Provincial Agricultural Land Commission containing urban, rural, and farm population data
File consists of selected background and resource material collected by Gary Runka relating to agriculture and environment topics. Includes:
- A draft report to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee from the Agriculture and Food Task Force
- Draft appendix material for "Land Requirements for 150 Head Cow/Calf Operations" in British Columbia (excerpted from unknown report)
- Handout for Agricultural Sciences 110 Lab Section discussion on "Rural/Urban Conflicts - Who is the Culprit?" (6 Feb. 1986)
File consists of academic papers written by Gary Runka during his 1966-1967 Master of Science in Natural Resource Management and Land Use Planning at Cornell University, New York.
File consists of Gary Runka's business and identification cards.
File consists of papers written by G. Gary Runka during his role as BC Land Inventory Field Coordinator. Selected works include:
- "Comments on General Soil Characteristics related to B.C. Industrial Zoning Maps",
- "Ektachrome Infra-red and Ektachrome Aerial Photography Project - Pitt Meadows",
- "A Short Course on Mapping Forest Lands Sept. 21-23, 1972, Prince George, Glacial Landforms and Surficial Materials",
- "Soil Stability Ratings - South Okanagan", "East Kootenay Soil Capability for Agriculture - Agriculture Sector Review - Report to B.C. Intersector Evaluation Committee",
- "Bulkley Intersector Analysis Area - Section I: Agriculture Sector Report - Report to B.C. Intersector Analysis Committee",
- "Dryland and Irrigated Agriculture Capability Ratings - Sept. 1, 1971",
- "Report on Land Capability for Agriculture and Forestry Prince George - Quesnel, Special Sale Area, B.C.",
- "East Kootenay (Region 13) Soil Capability for Agriculture and the Intersector Evaluation",
- "Tentative Correlation of Soils of British Columbia with Climatic Criteria", and,
- "Urban Suitability vs Resource Conservation an Interpretation of British Columbia Land Inventory Data, 14 May, 1973".
Subseries consists of publications, manuscripts, and drafts of worked written, co-written, or edited by G. Gary Runka over the course of his career. Also includes conference proceedings that contain contributions by G. Gary Runka.
File consists of a copy of Gary Runka's resume prior to the creation of his consultancy business G. Gary Runka Land Sense Ltd.
This fonds illustrates the life and work of G. Gary Runka and his contributions to the province of British Columbia. Gary Runka was the first General Manager of British Columbia's Agricultural Land Commission and helped establish the provincial Agricultural Land Reserve. After transitioning from a government career to private consulting, Runka provided comprehensive professional services through his land consultancy business, G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd., offering land capability and environmental assessments, integrated resource management, land and water use conflict resolution, and interdisciplinary land use planning. Described by colleagues as one of BC's most highly respected agrologists and influential land use planners, Runka had a 52-year career working on (or against) an incredible number of landmark projects in British Columbia, such as the Site C Project. Gary Runka’s partner in life and vocation, Joan M. Sawicki, worked with Gary on many of these projects—as well as her own; her contributions are also represented throughout the records of this fonds.
Gary Runka's deep connection to the land is evident from his earliest papers on aerial photo interpretation, his work with the Canada Land Inventory, through his speeches and his work establishing the BC Agricultural Land Reserve and in his subsequent consulting career through G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd. Gary Runka's influence and legacy was recognized in the tributes paid after his death, including the post-humus award as the Real Estate Foundation's "Land Champion" for 2014.
The G. Gary Runka fonds has been divided into the following nine series:
1) Personal Records
2) Speeches & Publications
3) Professional Records
4) Agricultural Land Commission
5) Land Sense Ltd.
6) Client Files
7) Maps
8) Photographs
9) Digital Records
File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Future of Intensive Livestock Enterprises in the more densely populated areas of the Agricultural Land Reserve" for the Agricultural Engineering Branch of the BC Ministry of Agriculture.
Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"In the letter dated December 29,1978, from GGR to Pat Brisbin (Secretary, Engineering Science Lead Committee), GGR refers to the enclosure as "the notes pertaining to my submission" that presumably was made at a meeting of the Engineering Science Lead Committee on December 21,1978.
The thrust of this item is to address the matter of intensive livestock farming in areas within close proximity to urban uses - e.g. in the ALR and along the urban / rural edge.
The 'notes" include a list of twelve "considerations" that should be taken into account when dealing with livestock enterprises on the urban edge.
Six 'actors' and their responsibilities are identified including:
- The Agricultural Land Commission;
- Ministry of Agriculture;
- Local Governments;
- BC Federation of Agriculture;
- Intensive Livestock Operators; and
- Non-farming Public.
It is emphasized that there is a need for communications between these actors and a need for education to avoid conflicts but makes clear that intensive agriculture shall be retained in the ALR.
The paper ends with a series of considerations - Philosophical / Social and Political Pressure / Financing and Tenure / Environmental - Pollution / Waste Disposal.
This paper demonstrates the long standing nature of concerns associated with intensive livestock operations near urban areas and the need for "edge planning"."