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2020.4.2.1.07 · File · 14 Nov. 1972
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

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']."

2020.4.2.1.10 · File · Apr. 1974
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

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

2020.4.2.1.11 · File · 3 Nov. 1974
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

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."

2020.4.2.1.21 · File · 28 Jan. 1977
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Resource Use Conflicts - The Fight Over What's Left" at the Canadian Bar Association Winter Meeting, Harrison Hot Springs.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"The panel discussion that GGR was participating in was entitled "Resource Use Conflicts - The Fight over What's Left".

GGR makes the point that without legislative steps to preserve agricultural land in BC, what would be left in terms of farmland in not too many years would be "nothing at all". After this reinforcement of the need for the Land Commission Act he explains briefly the designation of the ALRs and comments at length on the different types of applications.

It is explained that the ALR is based upon agricultural capabilities of the land:
"In other words, a soil/climate combination. The ALR is aimed at preserving agricultural land in the long term. Factors, such as parcel size, economic viability, current market conditions, ownership etc. play little or no role in the decision-making process."

In light of a considerable amount of the Commission's workload being focused on the processing of applications GGR remarks that:
"If we are sincere in our attempts to preserve an agricultural land base for future generations of British Columbians, we must regard the ALR as only a first step of many that are needed."

A flow chart is referred to but not included in the package."

2020.4.2.1.23 · File · 1977-1978
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "B.C. Agricultural Land Preservation Program". This speech was originally given on March 23, 1977 at the Sol Conservation Society of America National Symposium. Includes a version of the speech turned into a paper submitted for publication as "British Columbia's Agricultural Land Preservation Program" in the Assessors Journal. The speech and paper is accompanied by:

  • supplementary transparencies for presentation
  • Resume for G. Gary Runka
  • Canada Land Inventory Ratings
  • Summary of Applications Processed under the Land Commission Act
  • Areas Included and Excluded from the ALR by Year
  • Flow Chart for Applications under the Agricultural Land Commission Act

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This speech was given on March 23, 1977 and represents a major paper given to an international audience.

GGR provides a contextual overview of B.C. and breaks his speech into an overview of the legislation, how the ALR was established and the administration of the Reserve.

The speech, in part, draws upon themes in other speeches but this paper tends to pull all these subjects together in this single presentation.

GGR notes that up to this point 80% of the exclusion applications are from non-farmers and it is estimated that the program has saved 40,000 acres (16,187 ha.) of farmland from being converted to irreversible uses.

GGR outlines several key principles to having a successful program to preserve agricultural land including:

  • Regulations must be based on solid technical data people can understand;
  • Any control mechanism needs to be basically apolitical;
  • Must include shared decision-making - local governments and the public were involved in creating the ALR plans and local governments continue to provide comments and recommendations on applications; and
  • Ensure opportunity for integration and communication with the Ministry of Agriculture and other provincial government agencies and Advisory Committees of the B.C. Federation of Agriculture.

This speech was published as part of the symposium proceedings: "Land Use, Tough Choices in Today's World: The Proceedings of a
National Symposium, March 21-24,1977, in Omaha, Nebraska" by the Soil Conservation Society of America."

2020.4.2.1.24 · File · 2 Mar. 1978
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka to the BC Provincial Seed Fair in Fort St. John entitled "Land Use Planning and the Farmer".

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"Given the title and the audience, this speech reads like a wake-up call to farmers to pay attention to land use planning issues and get involved. Despite the available copy of the speech appearing as a draft the nature of the topic - farmers needing to get involved in land use planning - establishes a point that GGR obviously feels is important in the overall effort to preserve agricultural land.

The speech includes several examples of land use planning that can affect the agricultural industry including:

  • Rural zoning by local governments and the provincial ALR zoning;
  • Hydro-electric planning (a reference in all probability to Site C);
  • Preparation of regional, community and particularly settlement plans;
  • Industrial land development strategies;
  • Federal fisheries legislation;
  • Transportation planning;
  • Crown land lease proposals;
  • Water resources;
  • Various other land use initiatives involving wildlife habitat, open space recreation, historic and archeological sites; and
  • Taxation and assessment policy

Stapled to the original typed speech is a set of hand written notes (not copied) that are largely identical to the typed version. The typed version does have a few mysterious blanks but when checking the handwritten version the blanks may simply represent illegibility problems with the hand writing at the time of typing. Given these blanks, this may in fact have been a first draft of the speech with a cleaner copy typed up prior to delivery."

2020.4.2.1.26 · File · [June 1978]
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of an untitled speech about resource conflicts given by Gary Runka to the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) Annual General Meeting in Vancouver.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"The original version consists of 3 pages of hand-written notes that were accompanied by slides (not available). The hand written notes have been transcribed.

GGR outlined several societal needs and wants but emphasises that we don't have enough land to provide for all these needs and desires if we keep planning in a haphazard manner.

He urges environmentalists to be prepared technically and avoid the image of being opposed to everything. He calls for greater integration in dealing with resource issues.

GGR was the keynote, guest speaker at the meeting."

2020.4.2.1.32 · File · Dec. 1983
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of the written personal reflections of Gary Runka for the "'Ten Years of Agricultural Land Preservation", December 1983.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"These personal reflections were prepared by GGR for publication in the ALC's document commemorating its 10th anniversary entitled "Ten Years of Agricultural Land Preservation". These reflections form pages 33 - 35 of this 61 page document.

The reflections portray the hectic start of the Land Commission's work but also inform us of GGR's role prior to becoming the Commission's first General Manager. As noted, "I had been extensively involved in drawing up the "suggested ALR plans" for the various regional districts while working with the Soils Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture." He then accompanied the Commission on their initial meetings with regional districts and local governments around the province.

The fact that GGR played a key role in developing the CLI mapping (an important basis of the ALR), then was involved with drawing up the suggested ALR plans, followed by his efforts as ALC General Manager to implement the Reserve plans, and finally sign off on the completed ALR plan map sheets, arguably makes Gary Runka, like no other person, the "Father of the ALR"."

2020.4.2.1.42 · File · [July 1980]
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "The Rural-Urban Continuum: Tough Land Use Choices Ahead" for the Vernon Rotary Rural-Urban Day.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This speech / paper does cover some old ground dealt with in other speeches but is nicely brought together here.

GGR outlines several competing land uses and uses agriculture as a starting point in setting the stage by noting that there are just 74,400 food producers and 2,400,000 other British Columbians.

An emphasis is placed on communications, especially since most planners and politicians are overwhelmingly urban oriented. When involved with rural planning it is important to understand the rural side of the fence and look back at the urban area rather than the other way around. This means "understanding the natural characteristics of the land resource and its ecosystems."

Seven issues are considered:

  1. Short-sighted premises - the supply of land is limitless and the individual has the right to use his
    land as he wishes without affecting others;
  2. The interdependence of man within natural systems is not fully appreciated;
  3. Reluctance of rural people to accept planning programs;
  4. Institutions and organizations reflect rural reality;
  5. Sprawl is not confined to urban areas and when it affects the rural area it can be a large problem;
  6. The dilemma of wanting data to make good land use decisions, but while we wait for information,
    bad decision are being made; and
  7. What is politically palatable?

The speech ends with the need for rural and urban communities to be mutually supportive. While farmland preservation isn't central to this speech the rural resource and planning theme is relevant."

2020.4.2.1.54 · File · Mar. 1987
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "BC Soil Conservation Issues: How Serious are They?" for a BCFA Soil Conservatiori Seminar - March 10,1987.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"Stressing the importance of soil conservation, this speech begins by noting that all land and water users (not just agriculture) - on-site or off-site - are involved with soil conservation.

The paper is broken into 3 sections:
(1) Framework Considerations in which the diversity of BC's landform and climate is noted. The key soil conservation issues from a provincial perspective are reviewed including:

  • erosion;
  • sedimentation;
  • acidification;
  • organic matter loss; and
  • soil compaction.

(2) Economic Considerations - the estimated loss annually in agriculture due to soil erosion is 30 to 50 million dollars.
(3) Legislation and Institutional Structure Considerations - BC is noted as having no provincial legislation that has soil conservation as its main thrust.

While the ALC Act and ALR are not directly mentioned, soil conservation is an important associated issue related to farmland preservation."

2020.4.2.1.62 · File · [June 1994]
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Landscape Level Planning - Fitting People into the Watershed" at the Stewarding Our Watersheds Conference.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"The first half of this speech takes a very broad sweep in defining landscape units and the provincial planning system. In the second section "Entering the People Use Maze", the paper focuses more locally on the Salmon River watershed and discusses the findings of a survey associated with the Langley Rural Plan.

The survey results demonstrated that for both rural and non-rural residents in Langley, 'the country atmosphere' was why they had chosen to live in Langley. Residents also disagreed with the statement that it was unpleasant to live in an agriculture area.

The third section - "Techniques of Integrating Balanced, Sustainable People Use" into the Watershed" considers eight tools that will assist achieving "landscape level" planning, one of which is the ALC Act.

Besides these direct references to agriculture, country atmosphere and ALC Act; the Langley Rural Plan drew heavily on the survey that GGR refers to and the Plan, which was largely comprised of agricultural lands, was inspirational in the development of the Commission of work "Planning for Agriculture".

2020.4.2.1.67 · File · Sept. 2009
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Managing Conservation Lands to keep Nature's Pulse Beating" for the BC Trust for Public Lands.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"GGR's was the opening address at the workshop. While this speech is focused on the issue of Best Management Practices (BMP), comments about the ALR are woven into the presentation. This copy of the speech appears to be a draft version and includes several hand-written amendments with some points crossed out.

In the opening, mention is made of the grounding that the 2008 document "Taking Nature's Pulse: the Status of Biodiversity in British Columbia" has provided the workshop.

This speech provides an historical overview of the broader provincial context of BMP's drawn from 40 years of GGR's experience. The following is a selection of his comments:

  • BMP's are part of the "tool kit" of policy and management mechanisms that have been experimented with over the decades to try to rationalize human economic activities with the needs of other species and overall ecosystem well-being.
  • Historically the 1960s and 70s Canada Land Inventory program that emerged from the Resources for Tomorrow conferences was a significant benchmark mapping land capability for agriculture, forestry, recreation, wildlife and waterfowl use (of which GGR was centrally involved).
  • Within BC, using the CLI, the 1973 Land Commission Act authorized the establishment of a provincial zone to protect those sacred lands with the biophysical capability to grow food.

One point was not used in the speech (crossed out). The speaking notes, however, include a reference to the Land Commission legislation originally having a complimentary conservation objective that had since been removed. GGR makes the point that still having the conservation function may have contributed positively to current struggles to preserve natural habitat. Regardless, it is noted that the concept of the ALR has been a unique, effective and, most importantly a lasting management practices tool for conserving lands identified as biophysically significant.

A further selection of points made:

  • We need to evolve BMP tools that are adaptable yet resilient in the face of changing knowledge, climate change and ever-evolving social priorities.
  • Traditionally, planning has been most associated with local governments in the form of official community, regional and neighbourhood plans and as an outgrowth of the ALR - Agricultural Area Plans.
  • Environment Farm Planning - by agreeing to engage in the conservation planning process, participating farmers and ranchers have qualified for funding to carry out farm improvements benefitting conservation and biodiversity.
  • The work of the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust is outlined (p. 8)
  • "My final words of wisdom are - Be focused and be pragmatic"
  • "Many of the best intentions to standardize land management practices for conservation lands have been great on paper - but never quite make it on the ground."
  • And, if BMP are not implemented effectively on the ground, they cannot play the critical role they need to play in 'keeping nature's pulse beating'."
2006.18.1.12 · File · 2006-2007
Part of Aleza Lake Research Forest Society fonds

File consists of:

  • David Mills, "Aleza Lake Research Forest Historical Internship Summary" (2 Jan. 2007), 26 p. - In print and original digital .doc file
  • David Mills, "Aleza Lake Forest Experiment Station Socio-Economic Time Line 1905-1937" (2007), 68 p. - In print and original digital .doc file
  • ALRFS employment paperwork for David Mills, the ALRFS Natural Resource History Intern
  • Research notes, including a copy of a map of the town of Aleza Lake in the 1920s
2006.18.5.18 · File · 1974
Part of Aleza Lake Research Forest Society fonds

File is a Resource Folio of maps and accompanying information created by Northwood Pulp & Timber regarding Timber Sale Harvesting Licence A01847, Willow River Block, Willow River P.S.Y.U. Includes maps that depict ungulates, waterfowl, recreation areas, special influence areas, and timber types. Most of the sheets have a duplicate, some with very slight variations. The following maps are supposed to be included in the but were missing upon arrival at the Archives: fish & topography, cutting permits & roads, and soils.

2006.18.6.01 · File · [196-?]
Part of Aleza Lake Research Forest Society fonds

Photographs are panoramas taken from the Churchill BC Forest Service Lookout, located at latitude 54°04' and longitude 122°16'. The photographs were bound together and include a transparent grid that was intended to be used for locating forest fires.

2012.13.4.30 · File · 1986-2006
Part of J. Kent Sedgwick fonds

File consists of notes, clippings, and reproductions relating to the Cariboo and Northwest Digest publication. Also includes a CD-R that contains Sedgwick's index spreadsheet and accompanying documentation about the publication.

2023.2.2.1.2.2 · Item · [between 2002 and 2005]
Part of Dr. Paul Sanborn fonds

This document file "Cluculz Creek Fertilization Research Site.pdf" contains a field description and basic characterization data for a representative pedon at the E.P. 886.10 site.

2023.2.2.1.3.3 · Item · Apr. 2005
Part of Dr. Paul Sanborn fonds

Unpublished results for the Sulphur stable isotope tracer study (E.P. 886.15) were presented in annual reports to the funding agencies, including this "Sulphur Fertilization of Lodgepole Pine: A Stable Isotope Tracer Study (Ministry of Forests E.P. 886.15) - Project Y051210 - Technical Report" from April 2005.

2023.2.2.2.1 · Item · 1997
Part of Dr. Paul Sanborn fonds

"Mineralogy of clay and sand fractions of soils developed from till, glaciofluvial and glaciolacustrine deposits in central interior British Columbia" was a preliminary internal report that provides some background to Arocena and Sanborn's regional soil mineralogy study, as well as a compilation of the mineralogical data.

The key results from this work were later published as:
J.M. Arocena and P. Sanborn. 1999. Mineralogy and genesis of selected soils and their implications for forest management in central and northeastern British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 79: 571-592. https://doi.org/10.4141/S98-07

2023.2.2.2.3 · Item · 1998
Part of Dr. Paul Sanborn fonds

This "Soil Profile Description: Kiskatinaw LTSP Site" document provides a description of Kiskatinaw pedon.

The key results from the regional soil mineralogy study were later published as:
J.M. Arocena and P. Sanborn. 1999. Mineralogy and genesis of selected soils and their implications for forest management in central and northeastern British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 79: 571-592. https://doi.org/10.4141/S98-07

"Profile Descriptions"
2023.2.2.2.5 · Item · 1996
Part of Dr. Paul Sanborn fonds

This born-digital "Profile Descriptions" document provides descriptions of Williams Lake (Skulow Lake), Aleza 1 & 2, Log Lake, and Lucille Mountain pedons.

2023.2.2.6 · Subseries · 1983-2010
Part of Dr. Paul Sanborn fonds

During the 1980s, Agriculture Canada pedologists Scott Smith (retired from Summerland Research Station, formerly based in Whitehorse) and Charles Tarnocai (retired from Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa) had a large field program which addressed the trends in soil development in the central Yukon. Across this region, particularly between Whitehorse and Dawson City, the land surfaces and surficial deposits vary greatly in age due to the differing extents of glaciations over the past ~2 million years.

This work built on a pioneering study from the previous decade:
Foscolos, A.E., N.W. Rutter, and O.L. Hughes. 1977. The use of pedological studies in interpreting the Quaternary history of central Yukon Territory. Bulletin 271. Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa. 48 p. https://doi.org/10.4095/103066

Tarnocai and Smith presented their results in two publications:
C. A. S. Smith, C. Tarnocai, and O. L. Hughes. 1986. Pedological investigations of Pleistocene glacial drift surfaces in the central Yukon. Géographie physique et Quaternaire, 40 (1): 29–37. https://doi.org/10.7202/032620ar
Tarnocai, C. and C. A. S. Smith. 1989. Micromorphology and development of some central Yukon paleosols, Canada. Geoderma 45 (2): 145-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7061(89)90047-5

Tarnocai and Smith shared the unpublished data and soil samples from this work with Dr. Paul Sanborn, and this resulted in a student project published as:
Daviel, E., P. Sanborn, C. Tarnocai, and C.A.A. Smith. 2011.Clay mineralogy and chemical properties of argillic horizons in central Yukon paleosols. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 91: 83-93. https://doi.org/10.4141/cjss10067

2023.2.2.8.02 · Item · July 2009
Part of Dr. Paul Sanborn fonds

This PDF contains 2009 Kluane site notes that include details of transect locations and sampling sites. Grassland pedons selected for Pautler et al. (2014) are indicated.

2023.2.2.11.1 · Item · 1996
Part of Dr. Paul Sanborn fonds

The BC Ministry of Forest's EP 1148 Long-term Soil Productivity (LTSP) study addresses two key factors— soil porosity and site organic matter—that potentially limit tree growth and site productivity in the timber-harvesting land base and that can be affected by forestry operations.

This establishment report for EP 1148, "The effects of soil compaction and organic matter retention on long-term soil productivity in British Columbia (Experimental Project 1148)", is accompanied by a floppy disk containing 12 data sets (see 2023.2.2.11.2).

2023.7.3.21 · Item · Aug. 1974
Part of Grant Hazelwood fonds

Item is an original report by Grant Hazelwood entitled "Mt. Assiniboine Park Trip, August 19-22, 1974". Includes original print photographs pasted into the report. The objective was to sample the lakes fishery at the south and north ends of the park and to examine some grizzly bear habitat on the Simpson River and examine the condition of guiding cabins in the same area.

2023.7.3.26 · File · 1987
Part of Grant Hazelwood fonds

File consists of an original draft copy of the "Kokanee Glacier Park Master Plan", as well as the "Background Report for Kokanee Glacier Park Master Plan" and the "Kokanee Glacier Park Master Plan: Public Handout and Questionnaire". These items are accompanied by correspondence related to the Master Plan.

2023.7.3.39 · Item · 1982-1983
Part of Grant Hazelwood fonds

Item is an original report by Grant Hazelwood and Steve Head regarding "Crooked River Fisheries and Wildlife". Includes one original photographic print pasted into the report. This project was aimed at improving the recreational use of the Crooked River and it's adjoining corridor.

2023.7.3.74 · Item · Oct. 1977
Part of Grant Hazelwood fonds

Item is a photocopied report by Don Miller entitled "Observations of Caribou and Caribou Environment in Northern and Southern Tweedsmuir Park and Wells Gray Park in Summer of 1977 with Comments on Related Observations in Spatsizi Park during Spring".