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2020.4.2.1.46 · File · Feb. 1981
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Who Gets to Use the Land and Water? - the Urban and Agricultural Land Needs of the Okanagan Valley" for the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, UBC and Okanagan College.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"Although the ALR and ALC Act are not mentioned directly, the paper is focused on agriculture and rural planning.

When speaking of the competition for land and the pressure agricultural land is under, an interesting statement is included referring to the fact that "the fluctuation" in Washington State's apple crop is greater than the entire annual Okanagan production.

The paper reviews pressures on agriculture and urban land uses. Under "Satisfying the Needs (Options and Interrelationships)" seven points are made including "Understanding the land is the most important prerequisite to its wise and proper use," and that Integrated Natural Resource Management and Land Use Planning must be closely tied.

The paper ends with a point of optimism - "I see that potential to increase our understanding of the natural processes and to explore the questions of who gets to use the land and water from a view point somewhere in the orchard or countryside rather than from Main Street. That's a beginning."

2009.7.2.06 · File · [ca. 1906]
Part of Archdeacon W. H. Collison fonds

Small booklet containing handwritten notes of what appears to be a speech prepared by W.H. Collison on the topic of traditions and events he had been witness to along the northwest coast of British Columbia.

W.H. Collison obituary file
2009.7.2.14 · File
Part of Archdeacon W. H. Collison fonds

File contains obituaries for Collison as well as for his son Henry Alexander (H.A.) and granddaughter Katherine Clarke (nee Collison); various articles re: Collison’s many accomplishments; a letter of condolence from Councillors of the Haida Nation on the occasion of his death, a program from Collison’s memorial service at Metlakatla, and a typed biography.

2020.4.2.1.50 · File · Nov. 1980
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Western Canadian Agriculture - A Look to the Future" for an unknown audience.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"As the title suggests, this speech is largely a look at agriculture in Western Canada and therefore breaks from many of the familiar themes in GGR's speeches and includes several interesting statistics.

For example in 1921 the average Canadian farmer could feed 11 people. By 1981 the average farm could feed 56 people. [In 2012 The average farm in Canada produced enough food to feed 120 people every day.] The average Canadian expenditure of income on food after taxes:
1947 - 25%
1969 - 22%
1980 - 18%

The speech considers the following topics:
A. The changing Picture of Western Canadian Agriculture

  • Energy Costs
  • Cropping Options
  • Northern Expansion
  • Diversification, Intensification, Specialization
  • Foreign Ownership

B. Agricultural Land Use Planning
C. Integrated Land Use Issues"

W.E. Collison obituary file
2009.7.2.20 · File
Part of Archdeacon W. H. Collison fonds

File contains articles and obituaries regarding the life and death of W.E. Collison, as well as a letter of condolence from T.D. Patullo to Bertha Collison. Also contained within this file is an attestation to the baptism of Bertha Davies on 26 January 1897 in Devon, England and a certified handwritten copy of the marriage register entry for the marriage of W.E. Collison and Bertha Davies in Metlakatla on 8 June 1900.

Walt Taylor fonds
2002.9 · Fonds · 1951-2001

This fonds illustrates Walt Taylor’s activities as a social activist in the Okanagan region of B.C. in the 1970s, and his involvement with political-environmental activist movements in the Bulkley Valley-Telkwa-Smithers area c.1980s-1990s. The Taylor fonds includes records of the Skeena Round Table for a Sustainable Society, the Northwest Study Conference Society and the Waging Peace Society; as well as, background research compiled for Taylor’s publication "Waging Peace for a Living: An Action Plan for survival of life on earth", (Victoria: Trafford Publishing, 1999). The Taylor fonds also contains records of significance relating to proposed economic developments, such as open-pit mining, fishing and forestry policies and nuclear power; and documents pertaining to political-environmental actions conducted by Northern BC stakeholders such as First Nations (Gitskan and Wet'su'wet'en) and NGO’s such as the Telkwa Educational Action Committee of Householders. Types of records comprising this fonds include correspondence to and from activist organizations; circulars to society members; background papers on social activist issues; background reports on BC First Nations environmental and land claims issues, background studies on environmental & economic impacts of industrial developments proposed for Northern BC, newspaper clippings, and various publications.

Taylor, Walt
2020.4.2.1.30 · File · Nov. 1978
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Urban Growth Impact on Rangelands in British Columbia" for the Society for Range Management - Pacific Northwest Section in Spokane, Washington.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"In this speech GGR focuses on a single example of the Lauder Ranches at Glimpse Lake (north east of Merritt and about 12 km north of Douglas Lake) and states that his perspective for the purpose of his presentation is to look through the eyes of one that perceives the utilization of the forage resource to best advantage is for red meat production as opposed to the view of the urban planner.

In this example it appears the "urban" land use is a proposal to subdivide land along the lake shore for residential / recreation purposes.

GGR outlines the potential impacts on the long standing ranching operation. In his summary he mentions his concern with regard to recent changes to the (now) Agricultural Land Commission Act in stating, "...I think recent amendments to the Agricultural Land Commission Act opening appeal of Commission decisions to the political arm is going to cause serious problems (politicians do not understand the impact question)..." This is a reference to the appeal mechanism to ELUC.

There is also an appeal for beef producers to get involved more directly in planning and political processes which is a theme GGR has expressed in previous speeches."

2020.4.2.1.19 · File · 1976
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of notes for an untitled speech about "Experiences at the B.C. Land Commission" by Gary Runka at a Habitat 1976 panel at the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Vancouver between May 31-June 11,1976.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"GGR gave this speech as part of a panel at Habitat 1976.

The speech outlines the scope of the legislation, background of a provincial zoning technique (based on technical information), the establishment of the ALR plans in each of 28 regional districts and commentary on some of the projects the Commission is involved with.

Providing context to the land-use planning environment that the B.C. farmland preservation program and ALR were thrust into in the mid-1970s, GGR remarks that:
"In many cases we have local governments making their first real strong attempt at land use planning. Backed by the strength of the Land Commission Act it is seen as a real change to control urban sprawl and linear development that is detrimental from other planning points of view, as well as from the agricultural land point of view."

The fact that GGR was asked to be part of the panel at the first United Nations Conference on Human Settlements speaks to the regard given the B.C. farmland preservation program."

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."

2020.4.2.1.25 · File · Mar. 1978
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of an untitled speech to the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce regarding land use planning and its impact on the food producer.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"These 3 pages of notes prepared for a speech given to the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce are packed with several important themes and is a more refined version of [2020.4.2.1.24].

Some of the important themes mentioned include:

  1. Preserving the option of agriculture in BC will not be accomplished by preserving agricultural land alone;
  2. Prior to the ALR we were losing our best farmland first;
  3. BC is attempting to become more self-sufficient in food production;
  4. BC agriculture is diverse but lacks large volumes of any single commodity;
  5. Rural areas must be carefully planned to protect food production and not thought of as a storehouse of future urban development;
  6. With land use planning it is often difficult to see benefits in the short term but losses for a few people should amount to long term gains for many; and
  7. Several examples are provided of initiatives aimed at protecting rural areas, habitat etc.

The speech notes include the first mention of the work of the Ministry of Agriculture's Greenzone Committee and its efforts to find ways of reducing land use conflicts.

Many of these themes have been considered in previous speeches but are consolidated here and the paper ends with a need for food producers to get involved in land use planning process."

2020.4.2.1.56 · File · Nov. 1990
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of an untitled published piece in Country Life Column by Gary Runka.

Commentary by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This article is focused on renewed interest in the development of a provincial land use strategy. The article outlines the lack of action for over 20 years in the development of such a strategy.

Several key land and water uses that warrant consideration are listed - starting with agriculture - along with a list of overriding issues.

The position of GGR is clear in the last paragraph - 'The time for a provincial land use strategy was yesterday"..

Although farmland preservation is not specifically identified it would, one would have to think, clearly be one element of a land use strategy."

2020.4.2.1.57 · File · Mar. 1991
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of an untitled published piece in Country Life Column by Gary Runka.

Commentary by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This article focuses a report of the B.C. Round Table on the Environment and the Economy - "A Better Way - Creating a Sustainable Development Strategy for B.C." published in 1990. The thrust of the article concerns the disregard for agriculture in the report. The report identifies six key principles which amount to reasonable objectives / goals but in contrast agriculture fares badly in the report. Three examples are provided of the report's failings with respect to agriculture. Four key questions are asked including, "How can we best protect the limited high capability agricultural land base from alternate use competition?"

2023.2.2.12.3 · Item · Aug. 2007
Part of Dr. Paul Sanborn fonds

This document contains transcribed August 2007 field notes from 5 observation sites for Sanborn's comparative study of grassland soils in the Boreal Cordillera ecozone.