Item is an original copy of the proceedings for the March 1993 symposium "Urban Growth and the Agricultural Land Reserve: Up not Out" organized by the B.C. Agricultural Land Commission. Includes accompanying excerpt of G. Gary Runka's speaking notes for his speech on "Agriculture in the Urban Shadow".
Item is an original copy of an Agricultural Land Commission promotional booklet from 1975 entitled "The B.C. Land Commission - Keeping the Options Open".
Item is an original copy of a 1979 promotional booklet produced by the BC Agricultural Land Commission entitled "The Agricultural Land Reserve: Protecting B.C.'s Farmland". The booklet was prepared for the Provincial Agricultural Land Commission by J.M. Sawicki. Photographs by G.G. Runka.
Item is an original copy of "Ten Years of Agricultural Land Preservation" the 1983 anniversary publication by the Provincial Agricultural Land Commission.
File consists of records relating to the Agricultural Land Commission symposium "Urban Development and the ALRD: 'Up Not Out'" on March 9, 1993. Gary Runka attended as a speaker with the address "Agriculture in the Urban Shadow". Includes correspondence, symposium material, agenda, a copy of Ray Spaxman's speech "Urban Form in a Sustainable Region", attendee folder, notes, and background material. Also includes Agricultural Land Commission 'Preserving our Foodlands' buttons.
Item is an original copy of "Spallumcheen: The Visual Environment" by W. C. Yeomans, Landscape Architect created for the B.C. Land Commission.
Item is an original copy of the 2010 "Review of the Agricultural Land Commission - Moving Forward: A Strategic Vision of the Agricultural Land Commission for Future Generations" submitted by Richard Bullock, Chair of the Provincial Agricultural Land Commission.
Item is an original unbound copy of "Report to the Legislature by the Select Standing Committee on Agriculture: Phase IV Research Report" by the Select Standing Committee on Agriculture of the BC Legislative Assembly.
File consists of Gary Runka's records relating to the trial of Regina v. Edward Murphy and Douglas Holme, for which Runka was subpoenaed as a witness. Includes subpoena notice, transcript of Runka's examination in court, and newspaper articles about the trial.
Item is an original copy of a 1989 "Program Review: The Agricultural Land Reserve Program" for the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Item is an original copy of a 2002 promotional booklet produced by the BC Agricultural Land Commission entitled "Preserving Our Foodlands".
Item is an original copy of "Planning for Agriculture - Resource Materials" by Barry E. Smith, Policy Planner for the BC Provincial Agricultural Land Commission.
Item is an original copy of "Planning for Agriculture" by Barry E. Smith, Policy Planner for the BC Provincial Agricultural Land Commission.
File consists of records relating to the Perspectives on Natural Resources Symposium II Land in Lindsay, ON, November 8, 1978, which Gary Runka spoke at in his role as Chairman of the BC Agricultural Land Commission. Includes correspondence, speaking notes, conference material, and papers. Runka's paper was "Private Land Needs and the British Columbia Agricultural Land Commission Experience".
Item is an original copy of "Non-Farmland with Long Term Urban Potential in the South Okanagan" by the BC Agricultural Land Commission.
Item is an original copy of "Non-Farmland with Long Term Urban Potential in the Lower Mainland" by the BC Agricultural Land Commission.
Item is an original copy of the 1998 reprint of "Landscaped Buffer Specifications" by the Agricultural Land Commission.
Item is a report entitled "Landscaped Buffer Investigation" a summary prepared by BC Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the Land Reserve Commission.
Item is an original unbound copy of "Land Productivity in British Columbia" by the Select Standing Committee on Agriculture of the BC Legislative Assembly.
File consists of a 1973 BC Land Commission photographic slide and audio tape set entitled "Land Commission Act and the Agricultural Reserve Plan" that was used in original public hearings throughout the province. The 80 slides included with the presentation materials were created mostly by Gary Runka. The audio cassette is a recording of the presentation with speakers Bill Lane, BC Land Commission Chair, and Gary Runka, BC Land Commission General Manager.
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.
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.
Item is a photocopied reproduction of "Forever Farmland: Reshaping the Agricultural Land Reserve for the 21st Century" by C. Campbell for the David Suzuki Foundation.
Item is an original copy of the 1994 "Evaluation of the Effect of Downstream Benefits to Washington State Agriculture Under the Columbia Treaty on the Competitive Positioning of BC Producers" prepared by W.H. Holm and Associates for Provincial Agricultural Land Commission. Includes Volume 1: Summary and Volume 2: Analysis.
Series consists of records created and collected by Gary Runka during and after his time with the British Columbia Agricultural Land Commission. In the early 1970s, Runka served as the first general manager of the BC Agricultural Land Commission, the independent provincial body that has administered BC's Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) for over 40 years. As the first manager, Runka spearheaded the establishment of the ALR undertaking the technical tasks of setting ALR agricultural use boundaries, policies and procedures, as well as the building awareness and support for farmland preservation within government and with the public. He later served as Commission chair. Records include correspondence, informational material, publications, clippings, news releases, memoranda, symposium/conference material, reports, speech notes, and other textual material. Also includes seven maps, two buttons, six floppies, eighty slides, and one audio cassette tape.
Item is an original copy of the "ALC Handbook: A Window on the Agricultural Land Reserve" by the Provincial Agricultural Land Commission which was updated in installments between 1996 and 1999. Also includes six floppy disks that contain the ALC Electronic Library of documents.
File consists of original copies of Agricultural Land Commission statistical reports for the British Columbia Agricultural Land Reserve. Includes reports for: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997.
File consists of personal correspondence to Gary Runka during (or related to) his time at the Agricultural Land Commission. Includes letters of appreciation and correspondence with Ministers.
File consists of original copies of Agricultural Land Commission Annual Reports. Includes reports for: 1977-1978, 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001.
File consists of records relating to the Agricultural Land Commission. Includes correspondence, news releases, background information, papers, and memoranda. Highlights include:
- "ALC Technical Report Review Process Executive Summary, July 16, 2013 Meeting with Commission"
- "Agricultural Land Commission: Development of a Qualified Professional Roster" (2013)
- "Changing the Way We Do Business: An Update on the Transition of the Agricultural Land Commission" (2012)
File consists of records relating to the Agricultural Land Commission. Includes correspondence, news releases, background information, papers, drafts, newspaper clippings, and memoranda. Highlights include:
- "The Exclusion of Land from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR): A Focus on the 1997 to 2000 Period - Summary Points" by Barry Smith
- "A Commitment to the Future: A Proposal for the Protection and Management of Richmond and Delta Farmland and Fraser Wetlands" (2007)
- "Protecting Agricultural Land in British Columbia: A Citizen's Guide"
- "Protecting the Working Landscape of Agriculture: A Smart Growth Direction for Municipalities in British Columbia" by Deborah Curran, West Coast Environmental Law (2005)
- "Smart Growth BC's Position on the Provincial Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR)" (2003)
- "Use It or Lose It" article in BC Business by Katherine Gordon (2006)
- "The Rural-Urban Connection: Growing Together in Greater Vancouver" by Barry E. Smith and Susan Haid (2004)
- "Threats to Your Foodlands: Protecting B.C. Food Security" pamphlet by the ALR Protection and Enhancement Committee (2005)
- "Protecting the Agricultural Land Reserve: Our Foodlands under Threat" paper by the ALR Protection and Enhancement Committee (2005)
- "BC Cattlemen's Association Agricultural Land Reserve Information Brief"
- "Bill 21 - 2002 Agricultural Land Commission Act"
- Land Reserve Commission of British Columbia local government seminars informational material
- Job advertisement for the position of the Chair of the Agricultural Land Commission
- "Agricultural Land Commission/Oil and Gas Commission Delegation Background Note" (2003)
- "ALC Reserve Opinion: An Information Bulletin from British Columbia's Agricultural Land Commission" Spring 2003 (Vol. 1, No. 7)
File consists of records relating to the Agricultural Land Commission. Includes correspondence, news releases, background information, papers, and memoranda. Highlights include:
- "Merger Update: Agricultural Land Commission & Forest Land Commission" into a single Land Reserve Commission (October 1999)
- Letter from the Provincial Agricultural Land Commission to all local governments re: "Cancellation of General Order #168/74"
- "Agri-Tourist Accommodation in the ALR: An Agricultural Land Commission Policy" (25 June 1997)
- ALC memorandum re: "General Order #726/95 - Farm Retail Sales in the Agricultural Land Reserve"
- "Reserve Opinion: An Information Bulletin from British Columbia's Land Reserve Commission" issues Vol. 1, Nos. 1-4, 6, 8 (2002-2003)
- Land Reserve Commission staff directory (ca. 2000)
- "Growing Together: The Rural-Urban Connection" issues
- "Land Reserve Commission Performance Plan 2001.02 to 2003/04"
- "Farms & Forests for the Future: A Strategic Plan for British Columbia's Land Reserve Commission 2000-2005"
- "ALR Advisory" Nov. 1997 (Vol. 5, No. 3), Sept. 1998 (Vol. 6, No. 2), Feb. 2000 (Vol. 7, No. 3)
- "Utility ad Road Rights-of-Way and Agricultural Land" pamphlet by the ALC
- "Planning Subdivisions near Agriculture" pamphlet by the ALC
- "Preserving Out Foodlands" pamphlet by the ALC
- "Report on Quantitative Research" prepared for Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (June 1997)
- "FLR News" summer 1997 (Vol. 1 No. 1)
- "Conditions for Pipeline Installation within the Agricultural Land Reserve"
- "Land Within the Agricultural Land Reserve by Regional District & Municipal Jurisdictions" list (Jan. 1994)
- "Farm Population" factsheet by the ALC
File consists of records relating to the Agricultural Land Commission and Gary Runka's consulting work for the ALC in 1993. Includes a G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd. Invoice to the ALC for his services for the 1993 ALC symposium and the "preparation of a framework approach to land suitability for agriculture mapping for a range of crops within the Okanagan Valley, as follow up to the land suitability for tree fruits initiative of the Okanagan Valley Tree Fruit Authority", as well as a copy of the government contract for the latter. Also includes correspondence, news clippings, data, and background information.
File consists of Gary Runka's records relating to the Agricultural Land Commission after ending his direct involvement with the Commission. Includes correspondence, papers, informational material, and newspaper clippings. Highlights include:
- Bill 42 - 1993 "Cabinet Appeals Abolition Act"
- Bill 33 - "Golf Course Development Moratorium Act"
- Signed letter from Premier Mike Harcourt responding to Runka's letter regarding golf course development in the ALR
- Agricultural Land Commission comments on the Forest Resources Commission Report of April 1991
- Planning Institute of British Columbia position paper on Agricultural Land Preservation
- "Framework Approach - Okanagan Similkameen - Land Suitability for Specific Agricultural Crops" for BC Agricultural Land Commission by Gary Runka, G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd. (March 1993)
- "ALR Advisory: An Information Bulletin from the B.C. Agricultural Land Commission" Vol. 1 No. 1 (Jan. 1993)
- Debates of the Legislative Assembly, Thursday, May 7, 1992 Afternoon Sitting, the Hon. Joan Sawicki, Speaker
- "Farmland Protection Options for the 1990s" pamphlet
- "The land: To reserve or let go?" weekend special article in the Vancouver Sun featuring Gary Runka (22 March 1986)
- "Ex-ALC boss: Golf course decision bad" news article in the Times Colonist (28 July 1992)
- "Restoring the Integrity of the ALR" by Bill Barlee, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1992)
- "Voter Turnout Signals Support for the ALR" news release (7 Oct. 1992)
- "Socred Abuse of Power and the ALR" New Democrats Campaign backgrounder (1991)
- "Time to Stop Socred Interference in Farmland Decisions" New Democrats Campaign news release
- "Agricultural Land Commission Fencing Specifications"
- "A Sad Story of Good Politics and Poor Land Use--The Agriculture Lease Rush of the Late 1960's and Early 1970's in the North-Central Interior" by W. (Bill) Young, BC Forestry Association president (1987)
- "British Columbia Agricultural Land Commission: An Overview Report" (Feb. 1990)
File consists of Gary Runka's records relating to the Agricultural Land Commission after departing his role as Chairman. During this period he consulted for the ALC and continued on as a part-time Commission member. Includes correspondence, papers, informational material, and newspaper clippings. Highlights include:
- Joan Sawicki's notes on the history and overview of the Canada Land Inventory
- Pamphlet on Railway Right-of-Way Abandonment Problems for Farmland
- David Stupich MLA Nanaimo Legislative Report 16 Oct. 1979 "An Open Letter to the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists, BC Federation of Agriculture, the United Church of Canada and SPEC and to all other individuals and organizations that support the concept of preserving agricultural land under the aegis of the BC Land Commission"
- Telegraph from Rafe Mair, Minister of Environment, to ALC staff
- Gary Runka's 1979 resignation letter (to end his involvement with the ALC)
- ALC In-house discussion paper drafts
- "Farm Taxation - A Growing Concern"
- "Bibliography of Articles Pertaining to Agricultural Land Preservation in British Columbia"
- "Farmland in British Columbia: A general fact sheet by SPEC Society Promoting Environmental Conservation"
- Newspaper article featuring interview with Gary Runka "Saving farmland shouldn't have to be a political issue"
- "The Land - Always the Land" film proposal by Robert Nichol (1980)
- "The Effects of Zoning and Development Controls on Rural Landowners and Users" by Edward Manning (Oct. 1979)
- "Farmland and Farming in British Columbia" by Raymond Rodgers
- "Submission to the Agricultural Land Commission by John Rogers, Commissioner, re: Homesite Severance"
- "The B.C. Land Commission: Keeping the Options Open" informational booklet
- Joint statement by BC Institute of Agrologists and BC Federation of Agriculture opposing land use policy recommendations in the final report of the Select Standing Committee on Agriculture
- "B.C. Land Commission critical Path of ALR Plans" prepared by Joan Sawicki (1978)
- Vancouver Sun front page news article "Ex-chairman resigns from land commission" (5 Oct. 1979)
- Newspaper article " 'B.C. agriculture threatened' says former land commissioner"
- "In Defence of Rangeland" by Geoffrey Paynter, presented to the Regional District of Central Okanagan (June 1979)
- "Submission to the Regional District of Central Okanagan from the BC Federation of Agriculture, the BC Fruit Growers Association, the Association of BC Grape Growers, and the BC Cattlemen's Association pursuant to By-law #22 (Oct. 1979)
File consists of Gary Runka's records during his roles as general manager of the BC Land Commission (appointed 1973) and as the chairman of the Agricultural Land Commission (1975-1978) during its formative years. Includes correspondence, reports, informational material, and maps. Highlights include:
- A statement by Gordan Gram delivered 30 March 1976 entitled "Land Commission: Acquisition and Land Management"
- "Brief to the Commission of Inquiry on Property Assessment and Taxation" submitted by the B.C. Land Commission (29 April 1976)
- "Possibilities for Improved Land Management of Class 4 Lands in ALR: A Report to the British Columbia Land Commission" by Terence Lewis (12 Dec. 1975)
- Newspaper articles about the Commission's work and Runka's departure in 1978
- "Script for: Saving the Land - Bernholtz Study Project - A Slide Tape Presentation"
- "Green Paper on Planning for Agriculture: Food Land Guidelines" from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (1977)
- "Where Have the Farm Lands Gone?" pamphlet (1979)
- "Official Regional, Settlement, Community Plan Project 1978-1979"
- "Preserving Agricultural Land: Guidelines for Action" booklet (1978)
- Gary Runka's 1978 resignation letter
Maps include:
- Photocopy of BC Provincial Land Commission, "Agricultural Land Reserve Plan, East Kootenay Regional District", map no. 82K/9, base sheet 16 of 17, last amended July 1994.
- Photocopy of BC Provincial Land Commission, "Agricultural Land Reserve Plan, East Kootenay Regional District", map no. 82G/12, base sheet 8 of 17, last amended Oct. 1995.
- Photocopy of BC Provincial Land Commission, "Agricultural Land Reserve Plan, Thompson-Nicola Regional District", map no. 92L/1, base sheet 14 of 43, original dated August 1974.
- Photocopy of BC Provincial Land Commission, "Agricultural Land Reserve Plan, Thompson-Nicola Regional District", map no. 92L/2, base sheet 15 of 43, last amended Oct. 1998.
- Reproduction of B.C. Land Inventory (C.L.I.) base map 82E/3 showing Agricultural Land Reserve Boundary in the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District, amended to July 1996.
- Reproduction of B.C. Land Inventory (C.L.I.) base map 82E/6 showing Agricultural Land Reserve Boundary in the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District, originally dated February 1974.
- Reproduction of B.C. Land Inventory (C.L.I.) base map 82E/12 showing Agricultural Land Reserve Boundary in the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District, amended to Oct. 1995.
Item is an original copy of the 1986 report by Talisman Land Resource Consultants entitled "Agricultural Land Budget for British Columbia for Farmland Resources Branch, B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food".
File includes copies of "A Land Use Planning Framework" from July 1977 by the BC Ministry of Environment, Environment and Land Use Committee Secretariat, Resource Planning Unit. Also includes related printed transparencies.
Item is an original copy of the 1982 "A Guide to the Relationship between Agricultural Land Reserves and Local Government Plans and Bylaws", jointly published by the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Provincial Agricultural Land Commission.