Showing 9 results

Slide depicts an apple tree blossoming in a backyard. The yard is surrounded by a wooden fence. Original slide index description: "Apple blossoms Kelowna."

Slide depicts cherry trees blossoming in an orchard. Original slide index description: "Cherry blossoms Lakeview Heights."

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

Slide depicts Mission Flats from South East Kelowna. Photograph taken from an empty field and depicts a developed field and a wooden house. Mountains and the Okanagan Lake can be seen in the background. Original slide index description: "Mission Flats from SE Kel."

Slide depicts orchards surrounding Mount Boucherie. The Okanagan Lake and mountains can be seen in the background. Original slide index description: "Orchards & sunflowers from Mt. Boucherie."

Slide depicts peach trees blossoming in an orchard. Original slide index description: "Peach blossoms Casa Loma."

Slide depicts peach trees blossoming in an orchard. Original slide index description: "Peach blossoms Shanboolard."

Slide depicts peach trees blossoming in an orchard. Original slide index description: "Peach blossoms Lakeview Heights."

Slide depicts a row of red and yellow tulips in front of a row of blossoming cherry trees. Original slide index description: "Tulips & Chery Blossoms Ok. Mission."