Item is an original Canada Department of Agriculture Publication 1190 entitled "Climate and Agriculture in Central British Columbia".
Series consists of the client file project records of G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd., Gary Runka's consultancy business (co-owned with Joan Sawicki until 1991). G.G. Runka Land Sense Limited was incorporated as a company on 30 Nov. 1978 and dissolved on 30 Nov. 2018. Most business activity ceased after Gary Runka's death in July 2013. The company provided comprehensive professional services in land inventory, environmental assessment, integrated resource management, land and water use conflict resolution and interdisciplinary land use planning. Over the course of the company's operation, Gary Runka and his firm consulted on 681 assignments ranging from very large projects (such as the Site C project) to small residential/commercial land capability assessments.
The Land Sense Ltd. client files generally include records such as correspondence, contracts, invoices, project reports, publications, ephemera, memoranda, map excerpts, legal documents, meeting materials, clippings, and handwritten notes. Some client files are accompanied by related maps, photographs, aerial photographs, and/or digital records on storage media.
Image depicts a view of some farm land in Chetwynd, B.C.
Slide depicts cherry trees blossoming in an orchard. Original slide index description: "Cherry blossoms Lakeview Heights."
File consists of working records of the Central Coast Plan Implementation Monitoring Committee. The purpose of the committee was to monitor and report progress toward implementation of the British Columbia Central Coast land use plan and make recommendations on plan revisions to Provincial and First Nation governments. The land and resource management planning (LRMP) process in the Central Coast area began in 1996. In April 2001, an interim agreement was signed by the Province and stakeholders. Includes a promotional DVD created by the provincial government.
Item is an original copy of the presentation booklet "Celebrating 35 Years of the Agricultural Land Reserve: 1973-2008" created by Farmland Defence League of BC for an anniversary event. Includes an article by G. Gary Runka entitled "BC's Agricultural Land Reserve - Its Historical Roots".
Item is an original BC Wild booklet entitled "Cassiar: British Columbia's Fragile and Imperiled Northern Wilderness".
Item is a photocopied copy of the 1992 "Cariboo-Chilcotin Tourism Resource Inventory Study: Explanatory Notes" prepared by Ethos Consulting, G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd. and Bioquest International Consulting Ltd. for BC Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Cariboo-Chilcotin Region.
Item is a draft of "Cariboo-Chilcotin Grasslands Strategy: Interim Report on Grassland Encroachment and In-growth".
Item is a draft of "Cariboo Forest Region Resource Inventory Database".
File consists of two original unbound volumes of the draft report "Carcross Valley - Marsh/Tagish Lakes - Atlin Road Land Management Planning Project" released September 1979 by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Government of the Yukon. Volume 1 consists of "Review Framework and Resource Data" and Volume 2 consists of "Resource Data Maps".
File is a Greenpeace presentation folder with a package of reports and ephemera about the Canadian Great Bear Rainforest.
Item is an original copy of "Canada's Environment: An Overview" by Environment Canada.
Item is a pamphlet entitled "Canada Land Use Monitoring Program (CLUMP)".
Item is a copy of "Campbell River Area Park Plan" by the Regional District of Comox Strathcona.
File consists of G. Gary Runka's business card collection, which includes many unique examples of business cards from BC, Canada, and beyond. Includes cards for personal contacts and businesses as well as business contacts.
Item is a photocopied version of "British Columbia Snowmobile Area Inventory Study" prepared by BC Snowmobile Federation for the BC Ministry of Tourism.
Item is an original typescript of "British Columbia Recreation Sector Analysis East Kootenay Intersector Evaluation" by the Canada Land Inventory (ARDA) Recreation Sector, led by W.C. Yeomans.
File consists of selected correspondence, mailings, newsletters, pamphlets and workshop information from the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists (BCIA). Gary Runka was a long-time BCIA member. Includes issues of the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists (BCIA) Newsletter, the BCIA Special Report for the 65th Annual General Meeting, workshop materials for the BCIA 2012 ethics workshop, and the BCIA Committee on Principles of Stewardship Report to Council (29 March 2010).
Item is an original report by the BC Min. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food entitled "British Columbia Grains and Seeds Strategy: An Industry Development Plan".
Item is a photocopied version of "British Columbia Cross Country Ski Area Study" prepared by Nordic Group International under Canada-British Columbia Tourism Industry Development Subsidiary Agreement.
Photograph features a wooden box of pears sitting on grass, bushes in background. Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "This is a prize box of pears." It is believed that this photograph was given to Lillian & A.K. Bourchier by their niece Jean.
Item consists of transcript and tape summary of interview with Tom Payne who discusses his life, emigration from England, service in World War I, and career as shoemaker in Quesnel. Also discusses his subsequent work at the Experimental Farm in Prince George
Harkins, BobItem consists of typed transcript and tape summary of interview with Olive Foote who discusses her family's history in Fort Fraser, Stellaco area c.1930s and later move to Prince George region.. Includes discussion of her father working mineral claims in Endako area c.1950s
Harkins, BobItem consists of transcript of interview with Marilyn Rack who discusses birding and farming in Prince George region..
Harkins, BobItem consists of interview with Mabel Peterson who discusses domestic, family life and community life in small communities in North Central British Columbia c.1920s-c.1970s.
Harkins, BobItem consists of transcript of interview with Bob Dunsmore, CNC Forestry Dean who discusses forestry and agriculture education at College of New Caledonia.
Harkins, BobItem is a reproduced conference paper for the 4th North American Forest Soils Conference entitled "Bio-Physical Land Classification in Canada" by authors M. Jurdant (Canadian Forestry Service), D.S. Lacate (UBC), S.C. Zoltai (Northern Forest Research Center), G.G. Runka (B.C. Department of Agriculture), and R. Wells (Newfoundland Research Centre).
Audio cassette is Tape 6 of a recording of a Biologists Workshop for the Biodiversity Ranches project. Recording is from 2:00-4:30 pm on July 21, 1999.
Audio cassette is Tape 5 of a recording of a Biologists Workshop for the Biodiversity Ranches project. Recording is from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm on July 21, 1999.
Audio cassette is Tape 4 of a recording of a Biologists Workshop for the Biodiversity Ranches project. Recording is from 13:30-4:30 pm on July 20, 1999 on Side A and 9:30-11:0-00 am on July 21 on Side B.
Audio cassette is Tape 3 of a recording of a Biologists Workshop for the Biodiversity Ranches project. Recording is from 1:00-3:00 pm on July 20, 1999.
Audio cassette is Tape 2 of a recording of a Biologists Workshop for the Biodiversity Ranches project. Recording is from 11:00 am-12:00 pm on July 20, 1999 on Side A and 8:30-9:30 am on July 21 on Side B.
Audio cassette is Tape 1 of a recording of a Biologists Workshop for the Biodiversity Ranches project. Recording is from 9:00-11:00 am on July 20, 1999.
CD disc contains two documents:
- "IBHPB ICRP Pages 1-338 - Working Draft Dec 12_08.pdf" which is a document entitled "Ekati Diamond Mine Final Interim Closure and Reclamation Plan - Working Draft" from December 2008 prepared for BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc.
- "BHPB ICRP-Appendices-Dec12-08.pdf" which is the appendices for the above document.
File consists of a meeting agenda, minutes, mission statement, and promotional postcards for the Bella Coola Watershed Conservation Society.
This CD-ROM contains a Word document version of "Bella Coola Valley Invasive Plants: Fall 2008 Inventory and Recommendations" (2008) by Erin Williams, along with an accompanying cover letter.
Item is an original copy of the 1996 "Bella Coola Local Resource Use Plan" prepared for BC Ministry of Forests, Mid Coast Forest District.
Image depicts a field of hay somewhere in Beaver Valley.
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 "BC's Agricultural Land Reserve - Its Historical Roots" at the Post World Planners Congress Seminar.
Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"Vancouver hosted the World Planners Congress in June 2006 and the day following the Congress the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada hosted a full day seminar entitled "Planning for Food".
GGR provided an important overview of the BC farmland preservation program. The speech begins with comments outlining the factors motivating the government of the day to enact legislation to preserve agricultural land. The presentation was then broken into three time periods including:
The Formative Years (1972-1975)
The Refinement Years (1976-1996)
The Uncertain Years (1996-????)
GGR in his summary poses some less than optimistic questions and observations. He states that despite successes "there are growing
concerns that, over its history, the focus of the program has subtly shifted - from an agency devoted to farmland preservation, to a rationing board." He sees the focus on application review as being detrimental to the Commission's role of promoting and encouraging farming in the ALR. Given this shift in direction he presents several suggestions to get the program back on track.
The presentation ends with a challenge to the people of B.C. to decide whether the next segment of the B.C. farmland preservation history is entitled 'The Rebuilding Years' or not."
File consists of selected professional development declarations and records submitted to the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists (BCIA) and the Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association (CCAA). Submission of these professional development records was required for ongoing membership with the associations. These records also provide a record of Gary Runka's ongoing professional involvement in the disciplines of resources management, environment and climate, land use and reclamation, agriculture, and soil science. Also includes a version of Gary Runka's resume circa 1998.
Item is a booklet entitled "BC Wildlands Central Interior Region".
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."
Item is a document entitled "B.C. Peace River Cattlemen" showing the brand symbols of various cattle ranches in the Peace River region.
File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "BC Land Use Issues and Smiling Frogs" for the Agricultural Institute of Canada Foundation.
Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This presentation, which was accompanied by slides (not with speaking notes) reviews five diverse land use issues of which three involve agriculture, two of which were directly linked to the ALC.
The 'Smiling Frogs' metaphor is wonderfully explained as the heat is turned up and down on land use issues and complacency is something to be avoided.
GGR was directly involved in some capacity with each of the issues reviewed and, therefore is in a position to provide an "insiders" point of view. The five issues were:
- Burnaby Business Park (Burnaby Big Bend) - Lower Mainland - a very succinct overview is provided for this win-win accomplishment which directly involved ALC decision-making.
- Charlotte-Alplands (West Chilcotin) - involved an exploration of forest, recreation and wilderness tourism opportunities and the identification of potential conflicts.
- Fraser River Delta (Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust) - considers the successful coming together of agricultural and wildlife interests in an area that has both internationally significant wildlife habitat and an important part of the Pacific Flyway but also comprises one of the best agricultural areas in Canada.
- Mid-Coast (Greenpeace and Western Forest Products) - provides insights into a very hot issue that had some success and some failure in trying to get two very opposed sides together in which the Land and Coastal Resource Management Planning process is struggling.
- Six Mile Ranch (Kamloops) - every so often the ALC is faced with what might be referred to as an application of province wide notoriety and Six Mile Ranch assuredly fit this description. The application involved a proposal in the Kamloops area (but some distance from Kamloops) to use an area of interior grasslands ALR for urban development in the form of residential, resort and golf course. GGR sums up his feelings nicely on this land issue - "My involvement in this fiasco is indirect and that of "Citizen Runka" and perhaps more specifically as a student of government stupidity."
This CD-ROM contains the digital publication, "BC Land Summit Conference Proceedings, May 12-14, 2004" in PDF format.
Item is an original BC Min. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food publication by M. Robbins entitled "BC Horses: A Significant Agricultural Activity".
This CD-ROM contains digital records collected and produced by Gary Runka during his consultancy work for client job 593 / 601, the Grasslands Conservation Council of BC's "Facilitation and Consultations for Mitigating the Fragmentation and Development of BC Grasslands Workshop" project. Includes the following documents:
- "BC Grasslands Mapping Project: A Conservation Risk Assessment - Final Report" (May 2004)
- "The Grasslands of British Columbia" (April 2004)