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Agricultural Land Commission 1994-2001
2020.4.4.09 · File · 1994-2001
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

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
Agricultural Land Commission 2001-2007
2020.4.4.10 · File · 2001-2007
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

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)
Agricultural Land Commission 2008-2013
2020.4.4.11 · File · 2008-2013
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

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)
Agricultural Land Commission Statistics
2020.4.4.24 · File · 1985-1997
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

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.
"Agricultural Land Preservation - Some of the Problems" speech by Gary Runka
"Agricultural Land Preservation - Some of the Problems" speech by Gary Runka
2020.4.2.1.36 · File · Nov. 1979
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Agricultural Land Preservation - Some of the Problems" to an unknown audience, possibly a political caucus. A "Process Chart" of the B.C. Agricultural Land Commission Act is attached to the speech.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This speech was given several months after GGR's resignation as Chair of the Commission in January, 1979. There is no specific indication of who the speech was given to but mention is made to "caucus members" (p. 4) and therefore may have been the NDP caucus.

Specific mention is made to the opportunity to undermine the program by the Section 9(8) changes to the Act. (This is a reference to allowing the Minister of Agriculture to forward appeals of Commission's decisions to the Environment and Land Use Committee of Cabinet if no two Commissioners give leave to appeal)..

Mention is also made to the need for the Commission to be aware of problems affecting agriculture if it is to be the true defender of agricultural interests. Reference (p. 3) is made to the Commission being: "... too busy attending to applications to take a seriously positive role to ensure that present and future land use conflicts ... are minimized."

GGR also raises his concern with attempts to narrow the definition of "agricultural land" by suggestions that CLI Class 4 - 7 lands be automatically excluded from the ALR. He also expresses the need to be concerned with land use planning outside the ALR.

GGR criticizes "a less than positive attitude by government" (to farmland preservation) and calls for the need for a provincial land use strategy."
"Agricultural Land Reserves and the Land Commission Act" speech by Gary Runka to the BCIA
"Agricultural Land Reserves and the Land Commission Act" speech by Gary Runka to the BCIA
2020.4.2.1.15 · File · 15 Apr. 1976
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka to the B.C.I.A. entitled "Agricultural Land Reserves and the Land Commission Act".

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"With the original package associated with this speech are 5 pages of rough notes for another speech with the same title prepared for a B.C.I.A. meeting on March 22, 1976... Given that these rough notes were held with the material associated with the April 15, 1976 meeting it is possible the B.C.I.A. meeting planned for March was shifted to the April date. Additionally there are 6 pages numbered 6-11 that are of some detail concerning the work of the Commission but appear to be part of another speech but are included with the B.C.I.A. package and have, therefore, been [included with this speech].

The title of the speech "Agricultural Land Reserves and the Land Commission Act" sums up the thrust of the speech which notes the objectives of the legislation, the Commission's program of land acquisition and Commission research and support of innovative projects to assist rural planning to create a positive environment for agriculture and give direction to urban growth away from farmland.

Additionally an overview is provided of the Commission's activities in its first two years of operation. GGR comments that establishing the ALRs "... was but a first step and we feel that it is our job to continue to protect the Reserve by whatever approaches and methods of rural planning that are available to us". This speaks to a Commission that saw its role, even at this early stage, as being much more than simply a rationing board reviewing ALR applications.

Several examples are outlined in which it is suggested that professional agrologists should be looking at carefully.

At the end of the speech (p.5) GGR includes (a note to himself) to "follow with example of an agrologist's public statement" that obviously was of concern. The actual public statement was not included with the speech given on April 15th but was included in the rough notes of the speech dated March 22 which read as follows:
"Yet a member of the B.C.I.A. - a P.Ag - is quoted in the press in response to a local politician who asked him a question something like this in regard to an ALR exclusion application:
Local politician: What about the international, national and local concerns regarding land for future food production?
BOA member P.Ag: We should firstly be concerned with places for people to live and secondly worry about land for food production.
This is our profession - the image is yours to make.
I don't mean that we should go overboard, but if we are not willing to defend preservation of agricultural land - who is?"
"Agriculture in the Urban Shadow" speech by Gary Runka
"Agriculture in the Urban Shadow" speech by Gary Runka
2020.4.2.1.61 · File · Mar. 1993
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of a speech given by Gary Runka entitled "Agriculture in the Urban Shadow" at the Agricultural Land Commission Symposium - Urban Growth and the Agricultural Land Reserve: 'Up not Out' - March 9,1993.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This represents an important, highly pertinent speech concerning farmland preservation in B.C. The speech was given at the ALC Symposium marking the 20th anniversary of B.C.'s farmland preservation program. The speech rings as relevant today as it did when delivered 22 years ago.

It begins by identifying two perspectives - one, those committed to an agricultural future, contributing diversity and having a social value and two, those that feel agriculture is ultimately doomed and is only an interim use, especially in the urban shadow, until a "higher and better" use comes along. GGR states that we need to honestly state which perspective we are guided by.

There are a host of important themes woven through this paper including:

  1. While farming on the urban shadow benefits both the urban and farm communities, the negative impacts of urban/farm adjacency are predominantly borne by the agricultural community.
  2. In describing the situation prior to the farmland preservation legislation in the 1960's and early 1970's agriculture was consistently the "loser user".
  3. Even in the earliest days of the Commission, urban shadow issues were identified and the ALC recognized that provincial zoning was only a first step, and taken alone, was not enough.
  4. The BC farmland preservation program has been at least as successful as anywhere else in North American and looked on with envy in many other jurisdictions.
  5. GGR believes that after 20 years we are worse off today than when the program started due to (i) elected provincial politicians involved with the application process (ii) the ALR / Golf Course fiasco and (ill) the ALC has become paralyzed in their Appeal Board mode.

Several (13 starting on p. 7) urban shadow issues are outlined and GGR states that we must be serious about addressing urban shadow issues.

The paper ends with an outline of "where we need to be tomorrow" and GGR states: "I recall when the program began in 1973 we argued that all of the compromises with respect to agriculture had already been made, if we were to keep the options open for future
generations In British Columbia. If that statement was true then, how much more true is it today, 20 years later?"

From the Symposium concluding remarks, Gary Runka stated that based on his experience and discussions during the symposium, he believed that the following initiatives should be given priority:

  • Information and education programs
  • Communication between farmers, government and the public
  • Regional land use planning
  • Integration of government policies to a strong farmland preservation strategy
  • Provincial agricultural strategy
  • Programs which insure farms can be viable

The Symposium proceedings have been compiled in a 67 page ALC publication."
Agriculture Institute of Canada Task Force on Rural Development
2020.4.3.21 · File · 1990-1992
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of meeting minutes, correspondence, discussion papers, and conference materials. Includes:

  • "Rural Community Development in Canada: an AIC Discussion Paper" (1992)
  • "The Role of the Agricultural Professional in Rural Development: Report of the Task Force on Rural Community Development in Canada" (1993)
  • "Focus on the Future: A Supplementary Paper for the Rural Development Symposium" by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (1992)
  • "The Nature and Structure of Future Rural Communities" by Dr. Harold P. Baker (1992)
  • "The Family Farm in the 21st Century" by Dr. Clay Gilson (1992)
  • "Rural Jobs: Trends and Opportunities" by Bollman, Fuller, and Ehrensaft (1992)
  • "Development of the Rural Areas: An International Perspective" (1992)
  • "New Technology and Part-time Farmers: Their Impact on the Family Farm" (1992)
  • "Canada-Ukraine Agri-Food Partners in Progress" (1992)
  • June 1990 commemorative issue of AgriScience
Album 1
2003.13.1.1 · File · [after 1909]
Part of Parker Bonney Photograph Collection

Consists of a photograph album that contains 224 photographs that depict Parker Bonney's early years as a Forest Engineer. Includes photographs of the expedition to the Nass Valley undertaken by Parker Bonney, Sam Brown, and others. May also include photographs of later surveying expeditions. Also includes three photographs of the University of Washington rowing team, of which Parker Bonney was a member between 1909 and 1913.
Album 2
2003.13.1.2 · File · [after 1913]
Part of Parker Bonney Photograph Collection

Consists of a photograph album that contains photographs that depict Parker Bonney's early years as a Forest Engineer. Includes photographs of the expedition to the Nass Valley undertaken by Parker Bonney, Sam Brown, and others. May also include photographs of later surveying expeditions.
"ALC Handbook: A Window on the Agricultural Land Reserve"
2020.4.4.31 · Item · 1996, 1999
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

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.
Alcan projects in Kitimat and Kemano
2000.23.1.003 · File · 1975-1999
Part of Audrey Smedley L'Heureux fonds

File consists of newspaper clippings, news releases, meeting minutes, cartoon illustrations of the Alcan company, promotional pamphlets, and correspondence. Includes issues of "The Watershed" newspaper (Vol. 1, No. 3) and the "Ingot" newspaper published by Alcan (various issues, 1975-1995). Highlights include:

  • Brian Gardiner, "House of Commons Canada", 1993 (news release)
  • District Municipality of Vanderhoof, Meeting summary regarding "Nechako River Loss An Environmental Flashpoint", 19 May 1993 (booklet)
  • District Municipality of Vanderhoof, "Agenda, Town Hall Meeting", 18 May 1993 (document)
  • Murray Rankin and Arvay Finlay, "Alcan's Kemano Project: Options and Recommendations", 1992 (book)
  • Brian Gardiner, "Submission to the B.C. Utilities Commission Public Meetings on 'Procedural Matters' Regarding the 'Public Review of the Kemano Completion Project'", 1993
  • Hans Edward Albert Kuppers, "The 5th Year Anniversary Collection by HEAK", 1981 (cartoon book)
  • Alcan, Letter of appreciation to Audrey Smedley-L'Heureux, 1979 (correspondence)
  • Audrey Smedley-L'Heureux to NDP Committee, Reproduction of letter regarding "The Need For Continued Support", 1980 (correspondence)
  • Alcan, "Grande Baie", 1981 (booklet)
  • Alcan, "Alcan in Canada", 1979 (booklet)
  • Nechako Neyenkut Society, Certificate of thanks and founding to Ed & Audrey L'Heureux, 1983 (certificate)
  • Nechako Neyenkut Society, Constitution and legal Society Act documentation, 1980 (document)
  • Alcan, "Kemano Completion Project Information", 1994 (newsletter)
  • Rivers Defence Coalition, "Privatising the Nechako River", 1993 (pamphlet)
  • Greenpeace, "The Price of Power", 1993 (pamphlet)
  • Allied Rivers Commission, "The Hidden Costs of Kemano", [199-??] (pamphlet)
  • Alcan, "Special Report", 22 Sept 1993 (booklet)
  • Reproduction of "Concept..". article in the Western Business & Industry Magazine 24 (4), Apr. 1953 (article)
  • "The Watershed" newspaper, Vol.1 No.3 June 1994
Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail
2000.23.1.054 · File · 1976-1993
Part of Audrey Smedley L'Heureux fonds

File consists of material relating to the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trial also known as the Nuxalk-Carrier Route, Blackwater Trail, or the Grease Trail. The trail is a 420 km (260 mi) historical overland route between Quesnel and Bella Coola. Materials include a postcard, booklet, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, journals, correspondence, a map, a magazine, and reproductions of articles. Highlights include:

  • British Columbia Historical News, "Surveying B.C. Since 1793", Vol. 26 No. 2, 1993
  • Government of Canada Minister of State for Youth, "The Sir Alexander Mackenzie 'Canada Sea-to-Sea' bicentennial expeditions, 1989-1993", 1993 (pamphlet)
  • Alexander Mackenzie Trail Association, "Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail", [198-?] (pamphlet)
  • Blackwater-Ootsa Community Association, "Safeguarding The Future For The Unspoiled Wild lands, Waters, Fish, Wildlife and Lifestyles of The West Chilcotin", [198-?] (pamphlet)
  • Alexander Mackenzie Trail Association, "The Alexander Mackenzie Voyageur Route", 1993 (pamphlet)
  • Canadian Geographical Journal with feature article "Tracking Mackenzie to the West Coast", Vol. 93 No. 2, 1976
  • Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail, "Following in the footsteps of Sir Alexander Mackenzie and his Nuxalk-Carrier Guides", 1988 (pamphlet)
  • Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail, "Including Day Trips at the Blackwater Bridge", [198-?] (pamphlet)
  • Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail, "Including Day Trips at Burnt Bridge Creek", [198-?] (pamphlet)
  • Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail, "Including Day Trips at the Euchineko River and Titetown Lake", [198-?] (pamphlet)
  • Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail, "Including Day Trips at the Blackwater Bridge", [198-?] (pamphlet)
  • Beautiful British Columbia Magazine, Vol. 31 No. 2, 1989
  • BC Ministry of Forests, "Kluskus Recreation Area", (map)
  • Province of British Columbia, "Tweedsmuir Provincial Park (South)", 1984 (pamphlet)
  • The Alexander Mackenzie Trail Association newsletter, 1985-1994
  • Canadian Geographic with feature article "Following Mackenzie's footsteps to the Pacific" by Brian Patton, 1990 (magazine)
  • United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, "A Guide to Your National Forests", [198-?] (pamphlet)
  • B.C Ministry of Land, Parks and Housing, "Tweedsmuir Provincial Park North", 1985 (pamphlet)
  • National Forests and Grasslands, "Outdoor Recreation Guide", 1989 (pamphlet)
  • National Park Service, "Lewis and Clark Trail", 1988 (pamphlet)
  • Blackwater-Ootsa Community Association, "Safeguarding the Future for the Unspoiled Wild Lands, Waters, Fish, Wildlife and Lifestyles of the West Chilcotin", [198-?] (pamphlet)
  • Blackwater-Ootsa Community Bulletin, Vol. 2 No. 1, Jan. 1991
  • Lewis and Clark Trail, "Following Lewis and Clark Across the Clear water National Forest", 1982 (pamphlet)
  • Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Alberta, "Sir Alexander Mackenzie in Alberta", 1983 (pamphlet)
  • Provincial Parks Branch, "Tweedsmuir Provincial Park", 1977 (pamphlet)
  • Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing, "Tweedsmuir Provincial Park South", 1984 (pamphlet)
  • Tourism British Columbia, "British Columbia Road Map and Parks Guide", 1989 (pamphlet)
  • The Royal Canadian Mint, "The Complete 1989 Canadian Coin Collection" featuring an Alexander Mackenzie commemorative silver dollar, 1989 (pamphlet)
  • Beautiful British Columbia magazine. Vol. 24 No. 2, 1981
  • Province of British Columbia Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing, "British Columbia Agreement for Recreation and Conservation on the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail", 1985 (booklet)
  • The Alexander Mackenzie Trail Association newsletter, 1992
  • The Alexander Mackenzie Trail Association, "Following in the footsteps of Sir Alexander Mackenzie and his Nuxalk-Carrier Guides", 1988 (pamphlet)
  • Ministry of Forests Ministry of Tourism and Ministry Responsible for Culture, "Management Plan for Trail Portions on Public Forest Lands", 1993 (booklet)
  • The Bella Coola 1993 Committee, "Follow the Trail to Bella Coola and Retrace the Adventure", 1993 (pamphlet)
  • Heritage Research Group [Parks Canada?], "An Interpretive Study of the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail", 1986 (reproduction)
Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail Association
2012.13.3.3 · Subseries · 1980-2010
Part of J. Kent Sedgwick fonds

Subseries consists of material created and collected by Kent Sedgwick during his involvement with the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail Association. Sedgwick was the treasurer and later the president of the Alexander Mackenzie Voyageur Route Association. The association was formed to create the first official heritage trail in British Columbia. The trail is now called the Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail and is part of the route across Canada followed by Alexander Mackenzie in 1789 to 1793. The association aided in having the route recognized by each provincial government and the federal government. The files primarily consist of management plans, summary documents, booklets, and pamphlets created by the association, the provincial government, and Parks Canada.
Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail Master Plan
2012.13.3.3.02 · File · 1985
Part of J. Kent Sedgwick fonds

File consists of bound documents, plans, and reproductions. Includes: "Public input summary" spiral bound book from Parks Canada (Dec. 1985) and "Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail" bound book published by Parks Canada (17 July 1985).
Alexandra Isabel Mackenzie
2012.13.3.3.01 · File · [between 1980 and 2010]
Part of J. Kent Sedgwick fonds

File consists of reproduced copy of "To the Memory of Alexander Mackenzie's Granddaughter and last Descendant Mrs. Heald (Alexandra Isabel Mackenzie)" originally published in 1933.
Alistair McVey
2003.11.1.30 · File · 1999-2000
Part of Island Cache Recovery Project Collection

File consists of an oral history given by Alistair McVey, which was gathered as part of Dr. Mike Evan's Island Cache Recovery Project. Includes consent forms, transcripts, and the recorded oral history on the original media.
"Amchitka Nuclear Test - West Vancouver"
1996.8.2.12 · File · [between 1965 and 1967]
Part of Chander Suri fonds

File consists of a petition by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities against the Amchitka Nuclear Test by the Atomic Energy Commission of the United States of America.
Anna Bellrose
2001.58.02 · File · 1997-1998
Part of Prince George Metis Elders Oral History Project Collection

File consists of an oral history given by Anna Bellrose, which was gathered as part of Dr. Mike Evan's oral history project with the Prince George Metis Elders Society. Includes consent forms, transcripts, and the recorded oral history on the original cassette.
Anne Fitzsimmons and Herbert Greulich
2003.11.1.12 · File · 1999-2000
Part of Island Cache Recovery Project Collection

File consists of an oral history given by Anne Fitzsimmons and Herbert Greulich, which was gathered as part of Dr. Mike Evan's Island Cache Recovery Project. Includes consent forms, transcripts, and the recorded oral history on the original media.
Annius Van Driesum
2003.11.1.45 · File · 1999-2000
Part of Island Cache Recovery Project Collection

File consists of an oral history given by Annius Van Driesum, which was gathered as part of Dr. Mike Evan's Island Cache Recovery Project. Includes consent forms, transcripts, and the recorded oral history on the original media.
"Annual Housing Study for 1990"
1996.8.4.20 · File · 1991
Part of Chander Suri fonds

File consists of a 1990 housing study by the Housing Committee of the City of Prince George concerning affordability, demand, cost, growth, and mobile homes.
Antonia Brommeland
2001.58.04 · File · 1997-1998
Part of Prince George Metis Elders Oral History Project Collection

File consists of an oral history given by Antonia Brommeland, which was gathered as part of Dr. Mike Evan's oral history project with the Prince George Metis Elders Society. Includes consent forms, transcripts, and the recorded oral history on the original cassette.
Appraisal of Competitive Rent Survey, Prince George, BC
1996.8.4.42 · File · 1981
Part of Chander Suri fonds

File consists of a survey appraisal undertaken by Harvey D. Erickson of North Country Apprasials Ltd for Myles Breadner of Massey Property Corporation. Appraises a cross section survey of Multiple Family Dwellng Units availible for rent in Prince George.
"Balanced Agriculture - Its Social Value" article by Gary Runka
"Balanced Agriculture - Its Social Value" article by Gary Runka
2020.4.2.1.55 · File · Feb. 1988
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

File consists of an article written by Gary Runka entitled "Balanced Agriculture - Its Social Value" for the Symposium o n Decoupling, Ottawa - February 10-12,1988.

Commentary on this speech by Barry Smith of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands:
"This speech was prepared for publication in the July 1988 edition of t he "Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics".

The Symposium explores the social and economic values of agriculture and this paper primarily pursues the social value side of the equation and asserts that a healthy agricultural sector has a social as well as economic value to Canada.

The paper is broken into four sections:
(I) The Farm;
(II) Rural Communities and Regions;
(III) Canada and Beyond; and
(IV) Summary.

Under these broad topics the paper considers several themes, many of which have a strong or direct relationship to farmland preservation. B.C. and Quebec programs are directly mentioned. A few of these themes are captured here:

  • "balanced agriculture" ... let it imply a balance between economic considerations (market forces) and social values
  • It is not easy to design legislative programs that will accommodate both the legitimate financial concerns of those who husband the land and the desire of society to protect a scarce resource
  • Society must share in t he responsibility to retain foodlands. "...both Quebec and British Columbia accepted this responsibility in their agricultural land preservation legislation by bring in associated commodity income insurance programs along with the provincial designation of land within agricultural land reserve zoning."
  • A need for balance between private rights of land ownership with stewardship and the responsibility of government to intervene when private interests do not coincide with public interests.
  • The urban majority will have a growing influence on the way farmers and agriculture will be treated in coming decades
  • Any country is wise to ensure that it retains the option to produce at least a portion of its own food
  • Do we want agriculture driven by a "trade environment" or do we as a country have other social goals that we wish to pursue, of which international trade is part?
  • It is in Canadian society's general interest to have economic and social cohesion when considering agricultural policy reform."
BC Agricultural Land Commission
2020.4.4 · Series · 1968-2013
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

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.
BC Agricultural Land Commission staff Christmas party
BC Agricultural Land Commission staff Christmas party
2020.4.8.2.009 · Item · [1977 or 1978]
Part of G. Gary Runka fonds

Photograph is a group portrait of BC Agricultural Land Commission staff members at a Christmas party. Back row, left to right: Patti, Terry Lewis, unknown, Julie Glover, Gordon Gram, Gary Holisko, Kirk Miller, unknown, Shirley Brightman. Middle row, left to right: Eve Lew, Jim Plotnikoff (Santa). Front row, left to right: Verona Hoosen, unknown, Jane Perch, Denise Jankovich, unknown, unknown.