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The series consists of records created by the Victoria Branch of the BCER Company between 1867 and 1967. The records, including those of predecessor companies, are grouped in seven categories: Administration, Light and Power, Transportation, Advertising and Publicity, Shortt Commission (1917), Miscellaneous and Maps

Administration includes financial records (accounts, appropriations, reports of corporate officials, salary ledgers - which reflect company organization - etc.).

Light and Power includes reports and statistics re power production and consumption, substation journals, engineering reports on the progress of the Jordan River development, Jordan River powerhouse journals (1912-1966), Goldstream powerhouse journals, records of predecessor companies as well as Public Utility Commission reports and appraisals of BCER property (1939).

Transportation includes internal reports, correspondence and financial records of predecessor company (National Electric Tramway and Lighting Company, Victoria Electric Railway and Lighting Company, Consolidated Railway Company).

Advertising and Publicity includes advertising files of copy and newspaper ad schedules, clipping books of newspaper ads and news items.

Shortt Commission records consist of 3 volumes containing proceedings, evidence exhibits and the report.

Miscellaneous includes some statistical data on rivers in BC some score books of the Jordan River Athletic Club as well as minutes and club files of the BC Electric Tennis Club.

Maps includes 9 maps of various systems and dams.

This series consists of correspondence pertaining to the regulation of water utilities in the Province. The files date from 1929-1990. The records from 1938 to 1973 were created by the Public Utilities Commission under authority of the Public Utilities Act (S.B.C. 1938, c. 47). In 1973, the responsibility for water utilities was transferred to the Office of the Comptroller of Water Rights following the passage of the Water Utility Act (S.B.C. 1973, c. 91).

The records in this series were originally arranged by a number assigned to each utility file. Between 1938 and 1973 the file number consisted of “U-“ followed by a sequential number that coincided with the order that the utility was regulated. The ministry established a new numbering system in 1974 that begins with “0321” followed by a three digit number. This numbering system was applied to most of the files although many of the documents in the files still have the original file number written on the documents.

The files consist primarily of correspondence, memos, and handwritten notes. There are also copies of numerous forms including certificates of public convenience and necessity, water tariff rates, and applications for water licences. Files also contain copies of documents from corporate registry files, including lists of directors and Company Act annual reports, and Land Titles documents including deeds and plans.

CALL NUMBER: T1365:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public career : part 1 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1974-10-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Narration of childhood experiences in London and family background. Immigration to Canada. Farm boy in Ontario. TRACK 2: Brick-laying and real estate speculations in Vancouver. Store business. Marriage and decision to move to Victoria. Attractions of Victoria. CALL NUMBER: T1365:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public career : part 2 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1974-10-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Getting established in Victoria. Activities in 2nd Depot Battalion during World War I. Setting up gramophone manufacturing. Starting music store. Raising a large family. Business adjustments, radio, gramophone repair. Terminating business in 1947. TRACK 2: Involvement in Quadra PTA. Educational concerns. Running for Victoria School Board 1926-1930. Difficulties getting elected and reasons for success. School board concerns during Depression. CALL NUMBER: T1365:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public career : part 3 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1974-10-15 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Discusses electoral success in 1930s. Involvement and activities with Victoria Junior Chamber of Commerce. Involvement in Reconstruction Party and Major Douglas's Social Credit. Political activities. Decision to run for alderman in 1940. Issues in 1940s. TRACK 2: Fiscal policy 1940s. Municipal politics 1940s. Policies as mayor. Post-war needs of Victoria. Changes due to war. Opinion of best qualities of a mayor. CALL NUMBER: T1365:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public career : part 4 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1974-12-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Discussion of the role and duties of the Mayor of Victoria. Becomes president of Canadian Federation of Mayors. Runs as Coalition candidate in Esquimalt by-election 1951, discussion of results. Becomes chairman of Public Utilities Commission, description of responsibilities. Water supply issue. B.C. Electric. Bus fare issue. TRACK 2: Becomes commissioner on P.U.C. Government attitude to P.U.C. PNR issue of 1960. The public, and need for better communication of P.U.C. role. Career in retrospect. Philosophy. (End of interview)

This series contains the records of the Engineering Department. Included are correspondence, memoranda, reports, appraisals and investigations of the Chief Engineer and the Investigations Auditor. The records relate to applications for public utilities (water, gas, and electric) and their construction, expansion and operation, including applications for rate revisions, extension of natural gas and electric distribution lines, and improvements in sub-station transmission systems and municipal water supplies. There is a 1943 report on rates and service of the B.C. Electric Railway Company and miscellaneous files on cemeteries. This unit includes records relating to the application of B.C. Hydro and Power Authority, Gulf of Georgia Transmission Co., and others for a natural gas pipeline to Vancouver Island and Powell River, consisting of correspondence, briefs and exhibits presented at the 1972 hearings, and supplementary data.

This series contains a transcript of proceedings regarding the application of Inland Natural Gas Co. to supply natural gas to a number of points in the interior of British Columbia and the application of Prince George Gas Co. to supply natural gas to Prince George. These proceeding were held at Vancouver, B.C., on 10, 11, and 12 April 1956 (5 vols.). The series also includes one volume (pp. 1-145) of hearings held at Vancouver, B.C., 25 July 1956. The Exhibits referenced in the proceedings are not part of GR-1158.

This series consists of records of the Public Utilities Commission, 1972. Records include proceedings at hearings pursuant to the Public Utilities Act in the matter of the application of British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, Centennial Natural Gas Pipeline, Georgia Gulf Transmission, Malaspina Gas Pipeline, for the construction and operation of a pipeline or system to serve Powell River and Vancouver Island with natural gas.

Report entitled "Power Situation - Victoria System" dated April 15, 1939. Report by E.E. Carpenter, Consulting Engineer of the Vancouver Island Power Company, Limited.

This series contains records of the district engineer, Kelowna District, relating to irrigation and reclamation. Records include:
(1) Index of Water Resources Records obtained at regular and miscellaneous gauging stations in British Columbia, 2 volumes, to September 1956, prepared by the Dominion Water and Power Bureau (1936-1959) and Canada Water Resources Branch, 1956.
(2) Data on irrigation districts, Kelowna District Office, 22 April 1958.
(3) Proceedings of the Reclamation Committee, B.C. Dept. of Agriculture, Brief Nos. 1-38 (1953-1960).
(4) Irrigation Districts and Inventories, 2 vols., synopsis on data on irrigation districts, 1938-1950.
(5) Report on appraisal of property and investigation of operations of Okanagan Centre Irrigation and Power Company Ltd., by the B.C. Public Utilities Commission, 22 June 1944.

Speeches (1945-1950), clipping books (1941-1952), invitation cards and photographs; appeal court judgement (1933) re Matsqui vs. Western Power Co.; papers re Coquitlam and B.C. Electric Railway concerning the Public Utilities Act, 1911 and 1939).

Roderick Charles MacDonald was born on 21 November 1885 in Hosta, Inverness-shire, Scotland. He came to Canada in 1907 and was first employed by the provincial government at New Westminster. He established his own business, MacDonald Shoe stores in 1917. From 1922 to 1941 he was elected to the municipal council of Coquitlam, serving as Reeve for eighteen of those twenty years. In 1941 he was elected to represent Dewdney as a Coalition candidate and remained in the provincial legislature until the dissolution of the Coalition Government in 1952. During his tenure as MLA he served, 1946-1952, as Minister of Mines and Minister of Municipal Affairs.

The collection consists chiefly of speeches (1945-1950), newspaper clipping books (1941-1952), invitation cards, and photographs.

Source: MS Finding Aids

Presented by R.C. MacDonald, New Westminster, 1977.

Finding aid: file list.

This series contains tuilities regulation files and staff reports of the Public Utilities Commission (1929-1972) pertaining to the regulation of private and municipal gas, water, and electric utilities pursuant to the Public Utilities Act. Includes petroleum regulation subject files of the B.C. Energy Commission, Westcoast Transmission Company's rate hearings and pipeline applications (1977-1979), Kitimat pipeline application (1976), records relating to natural gas pipeline applications (1959-1968) and to water power development projects on the Columbia and Peace Rivers (1953-1963), and records of the Puntledge River inquiry (1962).

The series consists of copies of utilities files created after the implementation of the Public Utilities Act (S.B.C. 1938, c. 47). The files date from 1938-1989 and document the regulation of water utilities throughout the province. The records from 1938 to 1973 were created by the Public Utilities Commission. In 1973, the responsibility for water utilities was transferred to the Office of the Comptroller of Water Rights in accordance with the Water Utility Act (S.B.C. 1973, c. 91).

The records are arranged alphabetically in two groups that coincide with whether the water utility was private or public. Most files also have an assigned numeric number. Between 1938 and 1973 the file number consists of “U-“ followed by a sequential number that coincides with order that the utility was regulated. All files were renumbered in 1974 with a new number that begins with “0321” followed by a three digit number.

The files contain copies of orders-in- council and orders of the Comptroller of Water Rights establishing, amending the original application, or deregistering water utilities. There are also annual reports, financial statements, water utility reports and names of water utility directors.