This fonds illustrates the life and work of G. Gary Runka and his contributions to the province of British Columbia. Gary Runka was the first General Manager of British Columbia's Agricultural Land Commission and helped establish the provincial Agricultural Land Reserve. After transitioning from a government career to private consulting, Runka provided comprehensive professional services through his land consultancy business, G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd., offering land capability and environmental assessments, integrated resource management, land and water use conflict resolution, and interdisciplinary land use planning. Described by colleagues as one of BC's most highly respected agrologists and influential land use planners, Runka had a 52-year career working on (or against) an incredible number of landmark projects in British Columbia, such as the Site C Project. Gary Runka’s partner in life and vocation, Joan M. Sawicki, worked with Gary on many of these projects—as well as her own; her contributions are also represented throughout the records of this fonds.

Gary Runka's deep connection to the land is evident from his earliest papers on aerial photo interpretation, his work with the Canada Land Inventory, through his speeches and his work establishing the BC Agricultural Land Reserve and in his subsequent consulting career through G.G. Runka Land Sense Ltd. Gary Runka's influence and legacy was recognized in the tributes paid after his death, including the post-humus award as the Real Estate Foundation's "Land Champion" for 2014.

The G. Gary Runka fonds has been divided into the following nine series:
1) Personal Records
2) Speeches & Publications
3) Professional Records
4) Agricultural Land Commission
5) Land Sense Ltd.
6) Client Files
7) Maps
8) Photographs
9) Digital Records

Photograph is a formal portrait of Gary Runka.

Photograph is a portrait of Gary Runka and Joan Sawicki.

Photograph depicts Cayla Runka, Gary Runka, and Shaundehl Runka.

Photograph depicts Gary Runka in Ottawa, Ontario in 1971.

Photograph depicts Gary Runka, Terry Lewis, and Gordon Gram at the end of a backpacking trip in the Lower Stein River Valley.

Photograph depicts Gary Runka and Joan Sawicki on a BC central coast beach.

Photograph depicts Gary Runka hiking on Southern Vancouver Island.

Photograph depicts Joan Sawicki and Gary Runka on an outcropping overlooking South Bentinck Arm, Great Bear Rainforest on the BC Central Coast.

Photograph depicts Gary Runka backpacking in South Tweedsmuir Provincial Park.

Photograph depicts Gary Runka on his farm in Baldonnel, BC.

Photograph depicts Gary Runka in his Land Sense Ltd. office in Burnaby.

Drawing depicts visual notes taken at the 2020 Public Health Summer Institute with the theme "Think Globally, Act Locally: Public Health and the Anthropocene". Themes related to the COVID-19 pandemic are depicted.

This map is the May 2008 amendment (Bylaw 8061) of the Schedule C of the 2001 Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 7281 for the City of Prince George. This Schedule C map shows the long range land use for the City of Prince George.

This municipal map of the City of Vancouver from 1987 shows street names and street widening information.

This map is the October 2006 amendment (Bylaw 7807) of the Schedule C of the 2001 Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 7281 for the City of Prince George. This Schedule C map shows the long range land use for the City of Prince George.

This map is Schedule C of the 2001 Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 7281 for the City of Prince George. This Schedule C map shows the long range land use for the City of Prince George.

This map is the May 2006 amendment (Bylaw 7807) of the Schedule C of the 2001 Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 7281 for the City of Prince George. This Schedule C map shows the long range land use for the City of Prince George.

This street map of the VLA area in Prince George includes property outlines and street numbers.

This map is part of Schedule B of the 1993 Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 5909 for the City of Prince George. This particular map reflects the 1998 amendment to the Official Community Plan.

This map is the Schedule A accompanying map for the City of Prince George's Soil Removal and Deposit Bylaw No. 7022 of 1999. It depicts designated soil removal areas and M.O.T.H. gravel reserves.

This map depicts the City of Prince George's plan for soil removal and deposit.

This map is part of Schedule B of the 1993 Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 5909 for the City of Prince George. This particular map reflects the 1998 amendment to the Official Community Plan.

This map is part of Schedule B of the 1993 Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 5909 for the City of Prince George. This particular map depicts the east area of the City of Prince George, including the Prince George Airport (YXS) and the Blackburn area.

This map is part of Schedule B of the 1993 Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 5909 for the City of Prince George. This particular map depicts the southwest area of the City of Prince George, including College Heights, UNBC, University Heights, and Vanway.

This map is part of Schedule B of the 1993 Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 5909 for the City of Prince George. This particular map depicts the northwest area of the City of Prince George, including the North Nechako neighbourhood and the Hart.

This map is part of Schedule B of the 1993 Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 5909 for the City of Prince George. This particular map depicts the central area of the City of Prince George, including the Bowl area, the VLA, the Crescents, South Fort George, Heritage, and Peden Hill.

This map is part of Schedule B of the 1993 Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 5909 for the City of Prince George. This particular map depicts the northeast area of the City of Prince George, including the industrial areas on Prince George Pulpmill Road and Northwood Pulpmill Road along the Fraser River.

Item is Map 5 of a group of five maps relating to a City of Prince George Study of Construction Aggregates by the firm Willis, Cunliffe, Tair & Company Limited. Map 5 shows drill hole locations.

Item is Map 1 of a group of five maps relating to a City of Prince George Study of Construction Aggregates by the firm Willis, Cunliffe, Tair & Company Limited. Map 1 shows development areas and population for 1984 and 1994. As the map is undated, it is unclear whether the 1984 and 1994 dates are future estimates.

Item is Map 2 of a group of five maps relating to a City of Prince George Study of Construction Aggregates by the firm Willis, Cunliffe, Tair & Company Limited. Map 2 shows development areas and aggregate requirements for 1984 and 1994. As the map is undated, it is unclear whether the 1984 and 1994 dates are future estimates.

Item is Map 3 of a group of five maps relating to a City of Prince George Study of Construction Aggregates by the firm Willis, Cunliffe, Tair & Company Limited. Map 3 shows geology of the Prince George area and known sources of construction aggregates.

Item is Map 4 of a group of five maps relating to a City of Prince George Study of Construction Aggregates by the firm Willis, Cunliffe, Tair & Company Limited. Map 4 shows development areas, aggregate sources, and requirements for 1984 and 1994. As the map is undated, it is unclear whether the 1984 and 1994 dates are future estimates.

Image depicts numerous wood piles near the sawmill somewhere in Quesnel, B.C.

Image depicts a sawmill somewhere in Quesnel, B.C.

Image depicts a sawmill somewhere in Quesnel, B.C.

Image depicts a sawmill somewhere in Quesnel, B.C.

Item is the Proposed Land Use Map, 1978-2012, referred to in By-law No. 3138, the City of Prince George Official Community Plan. The original draft of this map was completed on October 24, 1977. This version of the map was amended in July 1982.

Item is a map depicting proposed land use between 1978 and 2012 in the City of Prince George. This map was drawn for the City of Prince George Community Plan; this particular version of the map was displayed in City of Prince George council chambers through 1979.

Item is a map depicting land use in the Vancouver Carney study neighbourhood area in Prince George. Also includes two mylar overlays that show the outlines of "unit 2" and "unit 3" development areas.

Item is a map depicting the Vancouver Carney study neighbourhood area in Prince George.

Item is a map depicting the areas of winter shadow in the Peden Hill neighbourhood in Prince George.

Item is a map depicting the areas of spring and fall shadow in the Peden Hill neighbourhood in Prince George.

Item is a map depicting a future high density development plan for the Peden Hill neighbourhood in Prince George.

Item is a map depicting a future medium density development plan for the Peden Hill neighbourhood in Prince George.

Item is a map depicting a future low density development plan for the Peden Hill neighbourhood in Prince George.