Showing 209 results

This series consists of Water Rights Branch file No. 011704 of correspondence, including the commissioners' report, regarding the Commission of inquiry under section 171 of the Water Act (1914) to investigate irrigation matters in the vicinity of Vernon involving the White Valley Irrigation Company and Coldstream Estate Company.

Daily journal relating to investigations pursuant to Evans' commission to investigate the fruit industry, September 1929 - April 1930. For related government records, see GR-0904.

The series consists of the records of the Office of the Indian Reserve Commissioner for British Columbia (1884-1898), the Office of the Indian Superintendent for British Columbia (1884-1894), plus records from the Office of the Indian Commissioner for British Columbia and its antecedent Office of the Chief Inspector of Indian Agencies (1910-1956). Also included are records of the Royal Commission on Indian Affairs for British Columbia [McBride-McKenna Commission] (1858-1930, but mainly from the period 1913-1916) along with field office records of the Nass, Skeena, and Queen Charlotte Indian agencies (1910-1968).

The records include correspondence inward, hearing transcripts, and exhibits. The following descriptions of the five series which comprise this unit have been adapted from the RG 10 Inventory, published by the Public Archives of Canada (PAC):
I. Office of the Indian Reserve Commissioner for the Province of British Columbia, 1884-1898 (RG 10 Volumes 11007-11015, microfilm reels B05631-B05633). Following a number of unsuccessful attempts to resolve the problem of Indian land in British Columbia, a three-man commission made up of dominion and provincial representatives and a joint commissioner was established in 1876. In 1878 the body was restructured and G.M. Sproat made sole Indian Reserve Commissioner. Upon his resignation in 1880, Peter O'Reilly was appointed to the position. The Indian Reserve Commissioner was given by order-in-council some discretionary power to act in allotting reserves although he was to follow suggestions of the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works (representing the provincial government) and the Indian Superintendent for British Columbia (representing the federal authority) concerning the locations to be visited and reserves established. His actions were to be subject to confirmation by these two officers and failing their agreement, questions at issue were to be put to the Lieutenant Governor for decision. O'Reilly served as Indian Reserve Commissioner until February 1898 when his duties were assumed by A.W. Vowell who also held the post of Indian Superintendent for British Columbia. Vowell served concurrently in both offices until his retirement in 1910 at which time the positions were abolished. The records in this series represent the incoming correspondence of the Office of the Indian Reserve Commissioner between February 1884 and November 1898. They are arranged chronologically and a number of maps and plans accompany the letters.

II. Office of the Indian Superintendent for British Columbia, 1886-1894 (RG 10 volume 11016, microfilm reel B 5633). The process of establishing a federal presence in the administration of Indian Affairs in British Columbia was a complicated one in the first years after that province entered Confederation. In 1872 a Superintendent of Indian Affairs was appointed, but in the following year it was decided that a Board of Indian Commissioners should, under the direction of the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, administer Indian matters in the province. Although commissioners were appointed, the Board was not a success and in 1875 British Columbia Indian administration was reorganized through the creation of two superintendencies (Victoria and Fraser). Four years later this system was replaced by one of several agents under the direction of a visiting Indian Superintendent until 1889 when he was succeeded by A.W. Vowell. The office was abolished in 1910. The records represent incoming correspondence to the Office of the Indian Superintendent for British Columbia between November 1886 and November 1894. They are arranged chronologically and were originally maintained in bound gummed stub files.

III. Office of the Chief Inspector of Indian Agencies/Indian Commissioners for British Columbia, 1910-1956 (RG 10 volumes 11001 – 11006, microfilm reels B5633-B5637). When the office of the Indian Superintendent for British Columbia was closed in 1910, agents were directed to conduct all business through headquarters in Ottawa. In the same year, an inspectorate system was inaugurated with the appointment of three Inspectors of Indian Agencies for the southeastern, southwestern, and northern agencies. In 1917 W.E. Ditchburn, who had held the position of Inspector for the Southwestern Inspectorate, was promoted to the post of Chief Inspector for British Columbia and his former position was abolished. In the following year the Northern Inspectorate was likewise dispensed with. In 1923 Ditchburn took up the new position of Indian Commissioner for British Columbia, but following his death in 1932 the office was left vacant. It was abolished in 1935, only to be resurrected the next year. Between 1929 and 1937 an Assistant Commissioner also served in the commissioner's office. In 1948 a major reorganization of Indian Affairs in British Columbia was effected. The office of Indian Commissioner was retained while that of the Inspector of Indian Agencies for the Southeast Inspectorate was reclassified Regional Supervisor of Indian Agencies. The records in this series consist of files of the office of the Indian Commissioner for British Columbia, its precursors (the Inspectorates and the office of the Chief Inspector of Indian Agencies), and the subordinate office of Indian Inspector for the Southeastern Inspectorate (after 1923). Files are grouped by responsibility centre for, while they are all records of, or which found their way into, the Commissioner's office, each refers to operations in individual agencies.

IV. Royal Commission on Indian Affairs for the Province of British Columbia, 1858-1930 (RG 10 volumes 11019 – 11028, microfilm reels B 5637-B 5650). In order to resolve the long-standing federal-provincial dispute concerning Indian lands in British Columbia, an Agreement was reached in September 1912 between special commissioners J.A.J. McKenna and provincial premier Richard McBride. It was decided that a Royal Commission be established with power to investigate Indian land matters, to adjust reserve acreage by reducing the size where the Commissioners deemed that the Indians had more land than needed, to determine the area to be added in cases where bands had insufficient land, and to set aside reserves for bands that had not yet received any. After acceptance of the McKenna-McBride Agreement by both governments, the Royal Commission on Indian Affairs for the Province of British Columbia was established in April 1913. N.W. White and J.A.J. McKenna were appointed commissioners by the federal government while J.P. Shaw and D.H. Macdowall were selected by the province. The fifth commissioner, E.L. Wetmore, was appointed Chairman. Upon the latter's resignation the Commission was re-constituted in 1914 with the addition of S. Carmichael and the elevation of White to the position of Chairman. From 1913 to 1916 the Commission travelled the province compiling evidence. Five progress and over one hundred interim and special reports were produced during the course of work in addition to the final Commission findings presented in 1916. The Commissioners were also authorized by a separate federal order-in-council of June 1913 to gather information on issues which, although extraneous to the terms of the McKenna-McBride Agreement, were nevertheless considered to affect the rights and interests of the Indian population. Their findings were the basis of a general report also submitted in 1916. In order to be implemented, the recommendations of the Royal Commission had to be approved by both governments. Following the passage of enabling legislation in 1919 and 1920, the task of adjusting the Commission's recommendations was delegated to W.E. Ditchburn and J.W. Clark (Federal and provincial representatives, respectively) who altered a number of the 1916 Report's suggestions. The Royal Commission report with the Ditchburn-Clark amendments was approved by provincial order-in-council #911 of 26 July 1923 and by federal order-in-council PC 1265 of 1924. The records in this series consist of correspondence relating to the Royal Commission's activities and an almost complete set of exhibits. In addition to land issues the files deal with such topics as surveys, water rights, hunting and fishing privileges, timber, and organization and administration of the Commission's work. The main files are arranged by agency. The series also includes copies of the hearings for each agency. Maps and plans accompany many of the files. With a few exceptions, the records date to the period 1913-1916.

V. British Columbia Field Office Records: Nass, Skeena, and Queen Charlotte Agencies, 1910-1968 (RG 10 volumes 10874 – 10883, microfilm reels B05650-B05653). When the agency system was adopted for Indian administration in British Columbia, the northern portion of the province was not immediately included. An agent was not appointed to the Northwest Coast Agency until 1886. In 1909 this agency was split into three: Bella Coola, Queen Charlotte, and Nass. The Nass Agency underwent further organizational changes, being divided in 1919 into two parts, Nass and Skeena. In 1922 these two offices were reunited as the Skeena River Agency. In the 1960s the Queen Charlotte and Skeena superintendencies were brought together in the Skeena River District, later named the North Coast District. Later field office amalgamations placed the bands of the North Coast District under the administration of the Terrace, and finally the Northwest District. The records in this series relate, for the most part to land in the Nass, Skeena, and Queen Charlotte agencies. Other subjects include water, timber, elections, mining, schools, adult education, and returned soldiers. The series is comprised of shannon files, some of which have now been divided and their parts given the artificial letter designations A, B, C, etc.

Series consists of subject files of the Deputy Minister of the Department of Commercial Transport. Records relate to many different areas of the activities of department.

This series includes miscellaneous subject files along with a large number of files relating to the Canadian Conference of Motor Transport Authorities, Canadian Good Roads Association, Royal Commission of Inquiry Into Road-User Charges. The records of the Canadian Conference Motor Transport Authorities include correspondence (1959-1970), conference particulars (1964-1969), committee files, etc. The Canadian Good Roads Association records include a pavement committee file (1958), correspondence, minutes, etc. (1966).

Deputy Minister A.J. Bowering was a commissioner on two Commissions of Inquiry into Road User Charges (1958, 1960). Records of this commission have been incorporated into his record system. The commission records in this unit include correspondence, briefs, exhibits, reports etc.

This series consists of documents prepared and accumulated by the Bureau of Economics and Statistics for British Columbia's case before the Board of Transport commissioners for removal of the mountain differential freight rate, 1948; and brief to the Royal Commission on the Coasting Trade, 1954.

This series contains records related to the Fire Insurance Commission of 1910. The commissioners, R.S. Lennie of Nelson, Day Hort MacDowell of Victoria and A.B. Erskine of Vancouver, were appointed to inquire generally into the business of fire insurance as carried on in the province of British Columbia. The records consist of typescript volumes of evidence taken at the Vancouver sittings (March 1910), Victoria sittings (March 1910), Nelson sittings (April 1910) and the evidence and argument at the final sittings at Victoria (June 1910). Also included is the report of the commissioners in which they stress the need for the provincial government to create an insurance department and to issue proper regulations.

This commission was established in May 1996 with Mark K. Jaccard as sole Commissioner. The records include, correspondence, submissions, research material, clippings, notes, and the report. The British Columbia Inquiry into Gasoline Pricing was established under Section 8 of the Inquiry Act by Order in Council 624, dated 16 May 1996, with Mark K. Jaccard appointed as sole Commissioner. The Commission was to inquire into factors that contribute to changes in the retail price of gasoline in British Columbia; factors underlying the different retail prices charged for gasoline in different areas of British Columbia; the fairness of and economic rationale for the price structure of gasoline at the refining, wholesale and retail levels in British Columbia; the extent to which retail prices of gasoline reflect the cost of crude oil in domestic and international markets; the effectiveness of market competition in regulating gasoline prices to ensure fair prices for consumers; and, the government's regulatory authority with respect to petroleum product prices. The commission was to report findings and make recommendations on the matters included in these terms of reference and on any matters deemed by the Commissioner to be relevant and important by 30 September 1996. After registering interested parties and compiling and circulating initial submissions, the Commission released an Interim Report on 5 July outlining key research questions. On 28 August Preliminary Findings of data collection and analysis were released followed by review of feedback from interested parties. The Final Report was submitted on 30 September 1996. Fonds consists of submissions, correspondence, research and reference files, administrative records and commission reports.

The series consists of correspondence pertaining to reciprocal agreements with other provinces respecting tuberculosis patients; statements of policy and procedure respecting various health facilities; correspondence and memos regarding accounts for various public inquiries.

This series contains the records of the Industrial Inquiry Commission on Electrical and Plumbing Industries. The commissioners, H. Carl Goldenberg (chairman), E.A. Jamieson and George A. Wilkinson, were appointed to inquire into the circumstances and merits of the disputes between various employers, employers' association, employees and unions engaged in the plumbing and pipe-letting industry and the electrical industry of British Columbia. The series consists of a photocopy of a single page majority report signed by Goldenberg and Jamieson in which they recommended a wage increase. Attached is a copy of a two page minority report by Wilkinson in which he disagreed with the recommendation of his fellow commissioners.

Records of the Commission.

By order-in-council dated 20 August 1992 the Inquiry into Safety of Loading Procedures within the British Columbia Ferries was established to inquire into and report on the safety of loading procedures for vessels within the British Columbia Ferry Corporation fleet; to inquire and report on the incidents at the British Columbia Ferry Corporation Nanaimo Ferry Terminal on or about 13 August 1992 insofar as these incidents disclose flaws or faults in the loading procedure from the safety standpoint; and to recommend improvements to the loading procedures, or the maintenance of current practices, from the safety standpoint. Its report was submitted on 11 September 1992.

Fonds consists of proceedings, exhibits (including a videotape presentation and photographs), a commission registrar's file, an administrative file, a general correspondence file, and a copy of the final report.

The consists of a photocopy of a report to the Hon. T. M. Waterland, Minister of Forests, from Donald T. Grant, R.P.F., Regional Manager, Vancouver Forest District, regarding charges by forest companies of inaccuracies in log scaling at the Shoal Island Dry Land Sort facility, near Crofton. The report contains a chronological history of the inquiry, a full discussion of the conflict, supporting statistician reports, final submissions, and conclusions and recommendations.

Parties involved included Dougan Logging; G.W. Cox and Sons Logging; John Reid and Associates; Kyoquot Logging; Traer and Mahood Contractors; White and Davidson Logging.

In addition to commissioner David Perry's report, the fonds consists of public submissions, studies, reports, memoranda and administrative records dealing with land use issues at Kamloops Lake including the proposed real estate development Six Mile Ranch, Kamloops on the Lake Resort by Pagebrook Inc. and the functioning of the Agricultural Land Commission Act.

This series consists of the records of the Inquiry Into the Administration of Mount View High School, 1943-1944.

This Inquiry was established by OIC1096 8 July 1943; John Owen Wilson was appointed as sole Commissioner to inquire into the administration of Mount View High School (Saanich), particularly the methods of discipline and alleged excessive corporal punishment. The collection contains correspondence, administrative records, proceedings, exhibits and the inquiry report.

The Inquiry into the Administration of Mount View High School was established under Section 5 of the Public Inquiries Act by Order in Council 1096, dated 8 July 1943 with John Owen Wilson appointed as sole Commissioner. The Commissioner was to inquire into the administration of Mount View High School, Saanich, and in particular into the methods of discipline and alleged excessive corporal punishment administered by the Principal or by any other teacher. The Report of the Inquiry was submitted on 4 September 1943 and tabled with the Legislature on 3 February 1944.

This series consists of records of the Inquiry into the Circumstances of Landslides at Whatshan, 1953-1954. Records include argument of counsel, transcripts of evidence presented at the proceedings (1953-1954), exhibits (1953-1954), and Commissioner Clyne's original signed report with bound copy (1954). Although the BC Archives never received some exhibits, details about missing exhibits are recorded in the files.

The series consists of records created by the Inquiry on Mobile Homes in British Columbia (also known as the Audain Commission) in 1975. It includes minutes of hearings (with a list of briefs presented at the hearings) in Kamloops, Cranbrook, Penticton, Kelowna, Chilliwack, Nelson, Victoria, Nanaimo, Prince George, Terrace, Surrey; a report (printed); and briefs submitted to the Commission.

CALL NUMBER: T4016:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC history : accident prevention (tape 1) PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1978 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-10-25 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Description of lecture techniques for blasting course and speech eccentricities of colleague, John Coggins. Unsafe blasting practices lead to WCB control over certification. Story about blaster Scotty Robertson. Examination procedures less orthodox when on the road. Details of blasting knowledge required to pass exam. Early inspectors have rapport with workmen. Mr. Paton pulls certificate of men on Squamish Highway project. Other provinces have limited control over blasters. Description of technical advances in blasting. TRACK 2: Labour and management have input setting regulations. WCB inspectors gain confidence of blasters. Outlook of blasting fraternity changes due to inspectors' efforts. Mr. Paton's previous experience centered around explosives. Mr. Paton no coddled when learning inspector's duties. Description of inspection work in addition to blasting. Priorities of inspection was by intuition. Major Rindal's advice. Description of training program for inspectors today. Early inspector learn through practice. Safety methods stemmed from practical experience. CALL NUMBER: T4016:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC history : accident prevention (tape 2) PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1978 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-10-25 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: C.S.A. work coordinated with WCB. BC develops some standards. Early inspectors were on their own when in the field. How Harold Rindal earned the title of Major. Major Rindal versatile in getting around. Regular hours not practical for field inspectors. Inspector Jim Newton's dedicated, no nonsense approach. Jim Paton introduces WCB standards to American pipeline crews in BC. Organized labour has increased role in accident prevention. TRACK 2: Labour/management relations influence accident prevention effort. Art Francis credited with recruiting good staff. Industries which complained most got WCB attention. New system spreads accident prevention work around more evenly. Today Board concentrates on problem areas. Computers so far not too useful. A.P. officers today part of centrally organized system. Industry and labour expect uniformity. Board economy minded in the 1950s, early 1960s. Board should have had more inspectors. Organized labour pressures WCB to double inspection force. Mr. Eades and Art Francis economy minded. BC Board only on in Canada with prevention services due to success of A.P. department with industry and unions. WCB has necessary information to carry on A.P. and has built up organization. Commissioners of today have time to devote to A.P., unlike earlier years. A.P. department added research and educational capacity. Area office gave A.P. officers closer contact with industry. CALL NUMBER: T4016:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC history : accident prevention (tape 3) PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1978 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-10-25 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Field inspector never looked upon themselves as civil servants, got dirty. Pineo, Sloan and Tysoe state that accident prevention is primary purpose of workers' compensation. BC is leader in field of accident prevention. BC terrain hazardous, organized labour a factor. Early inspectors had drive. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T4004:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC history : accident prevention (tape 1) PERIOD COVERED: 1923-1952 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-03-14 & 21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Outline of work experiences including farming, boxing, building construction, mining, safety officer. WCB issues first accident prevention regulations for shipyards. Accepts inspector position with Board for less pay that with shipping company. Different approach needed for cooperative and uncooperative management. TRACK 2: Story on uncooperative shipyard owner. Organization of inspection; work amongst department inspectors. Board undertakes inspection of mines, meets opposition from companies. Dispute with mine over first aid requirements. Department of Mines takes over mines inspections. CALL NUMBER: T4004:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC history : accident prevention (tape 2) PERIOD COVERED: 1944-1971 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-03-14 & 21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Method and example of accident prevention promotion. Firm penalized until ambulance is installed. Made first thorough inspection of Cominco. Recollection about fellow inspectors; Harry McLean, Jim Newton, Roy Helman, Gibb Draper, Ray Beaton, Harold Rindal. Inspectors have important effect on reputation of WCB. Initiation of Inspector Paton to WCB service. TRACK 2: Origin and development of blasting inspection. Details of inspection of Ripple Rock project. Origins of WCB inspection of waterfront. Questioned by Sloan (1952) on WCB jurisdiction over docks. Federal government takes over inspection of longshoring. CALL NUMBER: T4004:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Workers' Compensation Board of BC history : accident prevention (tape 3) PERIOD COVERED: 1944-1971 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978-03-14 & 21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Relations with shipping companies and longshoremen's union. Contribution of labour to safety. Safety a major part of the Board. Inspection work with the Board "one of the finest times" in Mr. Coggins's life. [TRACK 2: blank.]

The collection consists of records generated by the Joint Reserve Commission, predominantly from 1876-1878. The
collection includes correspondence inward and outward, memoranda, and reports. Many of the records were sent from Commissioners to representatives of the Canadian and British Columbia governments, such as the Provincial Secretary and the Department of Indian Affairs.

This series consists of Joint Indian Reserve Commission records, 1877-1878. Records include correspondence inward and outward and memoranda between Commissioners G.M. Sproat, A. McKinlay and A.C. Anderson and the Provincial Secretary and Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

The records in this series consist of correspondence and reports inward to the Provincial Secretary from the Joint Indian Reserve Commission (Alexander Caulfield Anderson, Dominion Commissioner, Archibald McKinlay, Provincial Commissioner, and Gilbert Malcolm Sproat, Joint Commissioner). The records include reports; summaries of work; minutes of decision; census of Indian population, livestock and acreage of reserves; and two memoranda dated 1869 by J.W. Trutch regarding disputes about Indian lands in Cowichan district.

Copies of correspondence inward to the Lieutenant Governor from the Commissioners and certain correspondence with Dominion Officials is also included in the record. The records are as originally filed. In most cases, the original Provincial Secretary's file number may be seen on the first document in a file, eg., for file 3 the number is 664/76, representing the 664 document received in the year 1876.

This series consists of reports (not printed) of Joint Commissioner Malcolm Sproat of the Indian Reserve Commission to the Dominion Minister of the Interior, 1876-1877.

Records of British Columbia Indian Agencies; letterbooks, letters inward, subject files, general administration files, agents' journals, constable's reports, agricultural and industrial statistics, correspondence re Royal Commission on Indian Affairs for the Province of British Columbia (1913-1916). Includes Alert Bay (1891-1909, 1913-1914), Babine (1888-1905), Bella Coola (1915-1921), Cowichan (1881-1948), Kamloops (1888-1915), Kootenay (1906-1919), New Westminster (1897-1922), Queen Charlotte (1888-1923), Stuart Lake (1910-1919), and West Coast (1895-1920) Indian Agencies. From volumes 1325-1328, 1336-1392, 1442-1449 1451-1495, 1563-1567, 1583-1591, 1648-1654, 1658-1665, Record Group 10.

This series consists of the records of the Liquor Inquiry Commission, 1969-1970. Records include proceedings, transcripts, submissions, correspondence, reference and research materials and the commission report. The series is divided into the following subseries: evidence presented at hearings; secretary's correspondence; briefs; commission correspondence; miscellany; and reports.

This series consists of the records of the Milk Inquiry Commission, 1928. Commission records consist of the original signed report which contains recommendations regarding the production and marketing of milk and milk products, as well as recommended changes in legislation regulating the marketing of milk and milk products.

The series consists of minutes of decision of the Joint Indian Reserve Commission (1876-1878) of governments of Canada and British Columbia and of the Indian Reserve Commission (1878-1907) of the government of Canada regarding allotment of Indian reserves in British Columbia.

Records consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports and coloured maps of the reserve allotments. Although these records are called Joint Reserve Commission records, they probably form part of the British Columbia Department of Lands and Works fonds. Most of the records are stamped with the Lands and Works Dept. stamp and also have Lands and Works file numbers assigned to each, after they were received from the Commission. Some files then had additional related records added to by Department staff, as reserves were surveyed or related issues came up. Additional records were added to several files by Department of Lands staff up to 1949.

In addition, the series includes an item level precis of each document, created by the Dept. of Lands in 1980. The precis are filed in the first file of each box.

The item consists of a photocopy of "My first seventy-five years (1891-1966)"; reminiscences of Henry Forbes Angus, concerning his family life, education in Canada and at Oxford, military service, 1914-1918, and career at University of British Columbia, 1919-1956. Dean Angus served on the Royal Commission on Dominion-Provincial Relations, 1937-1940, and the Public Utilities Commission, 1955-1965.

Presented by H.F. Angus, Vancouver, 1977.