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File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka to the BC Federation of Labour Environmental Conference entitled "Planned Development and Land Conservation".

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"GGR discusses the 'problem' of land being considered as either an "ecological natural resource" or "hot commodity".

He mentions that his background is in the natural sciences and land use planning and prefers to look at land as an ecological resource, not simply as a commodity.

The speech includes a quick review of the Land Commission's work and with reference to the Land Commission Act he makes the following observation (p.2):
"...the purpose is hardly necessary to relate to you - as what animal survives that destroys his food habitat next to his shelter or cover?"

The reason for BC's farmland preservation program could hardly be better stated."

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Physical Resource Data Needs in Land Use Planning" which was given at a technical workshop to develop an integrated approach to base data inventories for Canada's Northland.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"While the speech is not related to agriculture or farmland preservation directly, GGR emphasises the importance of data collection and mapping and its use in the planning process. The general principles he discusses were those employed in the development of the Agricultural Land Reserve.

The proceedings of the workshop were published in 1979 by Environment Canada." The proceedings are available online at: https://www.geostrategis.com/PDF/1974-04-17%20remote%20sensing%20for%20northen%20surveys%20and%20environmental%20monitoring-jean%20Thie%20CCRS%20copy.pdf

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Land Use Planning as it affects the Vegetable Industry".

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"GGR gives this speech as a representative of the B.C. Land Commission and is directed at vegetable industry reps.

The ALR is mentioned a number of times and it is noted that only 1 - 2% of BC is suitable for vegetable production. Several examples (8) of pressures on agricultural land are given.

GGR draws his audience's attention to the impact of speculation when stating:
"Substantial capital gain from land development or speculation unfortunately can to some degree subvert even the best planning. .... Fortunately, this type of speculation is now on somewhat shaky ground because of the Land Commission Act in B.C."

The overall message is that vegetable producers should involve themselves in land use planning."

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka to the Agricultural Institute of Canada entitled "Managing Our Land Resources for Survival and Pleasure".

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This speech is aimed at land use planning and planners, and GGR provides his definition of "ecology" which includes:
"...the basic characteristics of the land - its geology, soils, climate, vegetation, and animal life, including the devil that does the most damage, man. It also includes the interrelationships within these basic characteristics and of course this is where the word "complexities" comes in. There are no two places where these components combine in exactly the same manner and each ecological unit, if you like, is unique."

GGR mentions the importance of considering options.

This package includes a copy of the speech as well as a second, 2 page document, with the same title in which GGR is noted as 'Manager of the BC Land Commission'. This second document is largely a summary of the more formal speech."

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka to the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Environment Committee entitled "The Canada Land Inventory, Land Capability Analysis and the Chamber of Commerce".

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"GGR makes the point in opening that the Chamber of Commerce may not be a group the public normally associates with concern for the environment but he feels it is time to correct this fallacy.

This speech is of value, if for nothing else, for the outline provided of the origin of the Canada Land Inventory (page 2).

Interestingly in the light of a future Land Commission publication, GGR uses the phrase "...with proper inventory information perhaps we would have left some of our options open". The 15 page B.C. Land Commission booklet published in March 1975 [was titled 'The B.C. Land Commission: Keeping the Options Open']."

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka to the BC Federation of Naturalists in Vernon entitled "The Canada Land Inventory, Land Capability Analysis and the Planning Process".

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This speech largely avoids technical detail and an outlining of the mechanics of land capability analysis but does provide several practical examples that allow for a better understanding of the application of the analytical work.

The summary on page 11 is particularly important (in part):
"Planning must anticipate desirable land use patterns, not merely react to the pressure of short run expedients. Above all else let's not forget that land use planning should be people-oriented as well as resources-oriented. Hopefully, facts rather than short term
economics, politics, or emotions will play an increasing role in decision-making."

The speech was accompanied by slides.

(Note: Via a handwritten amendment the title was changed from "Land Capability Analysis and the Planning Process" to 'The Canada Land Inventory, Land Capability Analysis and the Planning Process"

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."

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka to the Canada Soil Survey Committee in Ottawa entitled "Land Capability Analysis".

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This is a fairly technical speech explaining the history, and mechanics of the evolving land capability analysis process in BC. It gives insight into this early period in which there was a fair amount of trial and error to develop the best techniques to display and utilize information.

From an agricultural perspective the speech notes (p.5) that compatibility between agriculture and other sectors is not high. The speech demonstrates what would emerge as an important link between Land Capability Analysis and the ALR. On page 7 "possible predictions that will result in land use conflicts but perhaps better long range planning" are insightful and in the case of this statement, reads like a tentative foreshadowing of the BC farmland preservation program that would emerge in about two years.

"(1) Agriculture - "(c) Conservation of agricultural land through rural zoning of those high capability and high productivity soils, near markets."

It is unknown if the use of the acronym C.S.S.C was intended to refer to the "Canada Soil Survey Committee", which held its eighth meeting in Ottawa in 1970, or to the "Canadian System of Soil Classification. Regardless, for more information on the subject a copy of the 1998 / 187 page report by the Soil Classification Working Group entitled, "The Canadian System of Soil Classification" can be found here: https://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/publications/manuals/1998-cssc-ed3/cssc3_manual.pdf "

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "BC's Land Use and the Current Land Inventory".

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"Although page 4 of this speech is missing (or possibly intentionally deleted), this document provides a detailed explanation of the CLI ratings and may well have been the basis of interpretation guidelines for agricultural capability mapping used by the ALC.

GGR at the time was the B.C. Land Inventory Field Coordinator.

It appears that slides at one point accompanied this speech."

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Relationship Between A.R.D.A. Soil Capability Ratings and Soil Productivity Ratings".

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This is a very useful overview of the agricultural capability ratings.

While no mention is of course made in this (circa) 1969 speech to the BC farmland preservation program, its value rests in the importance of the BCLI in the original designation the ALR and its future administration.

For anyone that is or has been involved with the farmland preservation program, this single sentence within the speech, made about 4 or 5 years before the designation of the ALR, provides an important insight into the value of the CLI and its relationship to farmland preservation. "For example. Class 5 soils while restricted in use to pasture or hay can produce very high yields."

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Consensus Decision Making" for an Executive Development Program.

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Working Together Towards Identifying and Protecting Land for Nature in the Kamloops Area" to an unknown audience.

File consists of a panel moderation talk given by Gary Runka entitled "Methods of Resolving Land Use Conflicts in BC".

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Winter Range for Ungulates" for the Symposium on Threatened Species and Habitats in British Columbia and the Yukon.

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 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 consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Vegetable Situation in BC".

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka at UBC entitled "Land Capability Analysis".

File consists of a presentation folder containing the Official Report of Debates of the Legislative Assembly (Hansard) from Wednesday, February 12, 2014 Afternoon Sitting (Volume 5, Number 2) which includes a tribute to Gary Runka. Also includes a DVD.

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.