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Archival description
Game protection--British Columbia
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Provincial Game Warden records

  • GR-0446
  • Series
  • 1905-1927

This collection is comprised of records relating to the development, implementation and administration of game management policies in British Columbia from 1905-1927. It includes correspondence, reports, vouchers and licences, as well as information regarding firearms regulation and prosecutions under game laws. Records were created by the Provincial Game Warden, Deputy Game Wardens and other related staff.

Researchers will find these records particularly useful for tracking the development and implementation of early provincial game management policies. General correspondence and reports from Deputy Game Wardens throughout the province contain information regarding the status of game in various areas over time. Difficulties in enforcing policies such as regulation of trophy hunters and the need for firearms licences are documented in these materials. Development of the game base as an economic resource through payment of licence fees, and international promotion of the province as a sportsperson's centre, were key components of A. Bryan Williams' approach to game management and the results of this can also be studied in these records. Conflicts between the provincial approach to the game resource and that taken by some Indigenous peoples can be studied in this collection. Additional subjects include fishing, fur farming, wildlife management and conflict between hunting with other forms and land and resource use. Many of the Deputy Game Wardens saw military service abroad during World War I and the records include some relevant correspondence.

See Table of Contents below for a general sense of the collection organization and finding aid for a detailed file/item list. The contents of some files are listed in a hardcopy index (i.e. an item list) available in the reference room. The series is arranged by record type into the following sub series and sub-sub series:

A. Indexes
B. Correspondence
B(1) Personal and semi-official correspondence of A. Bryan Williams, Provincial Game Warden
B(2) Correspondence out
B(3) Letterbooks of correspondence out
B(4) General correspondence inward and outward
B(5) Correspondence re: firearms licences
C. Deputy Game Wardens
C(1) Monthly reports Boxes
C(2) Correspondence Boxes
D. Returns re: firearms licences
E. Vouchers
F. Licences
G. Prosecutions
H. Miscellaneous

British Columbia. Provincial Game and Forest Warden

Royal Commission Re Albert Richard Baker, Chairman of the Game Conservation Board (1921)

  • GR-0800
  • Series
  • 1921-1922

This series consists of records of the Royal Commission Regarding Albert Richard Baker, Chairman of the Game Conservation Board. Commission records consist of letters patent appointing the commissioner, transcripts of evidence presented at proceedings, exhibits and the commissioner's original signed report and printed version.

British Columbia. Royal Commission Re Albert Richard Baker, Chairman of the Game Conservation Board

Fish and wildlife records

  • GR-1027
  • Series
  • 1920-1977

The series consists of records created by the Game Commission (1920-1957), the Fish and Game Branch (1957-1966), and the Fish and Wildlife Branch (1966-1977) relating to game, wildlife and fisheries management and conservation; environmental protection and habitat improvement; the administration of fish, trapping, and game laws; ecological and scientific investigations; water license applications and stream obstruction reports; flood control, pollution and protection of stream and river habitat; predator and rodent control; hunting, sports fisheries, outdoor recreation, and parks; Branch policy and administration.

The files contain correspondence, annual reports, manuals, memoranda and special reports and include correspondence with conservation and environmental groups, fish and game clubs, professional organizations of conservation officers, and other agencies of government.

The series also includes a subject file index (see box 2) and an index of orders-in-council relating to game enforcement, 1885-1968; hatchery records of the Cultus Lake, Smith Falls, and Lloyds Creek hatcheries of the Fish Culture Service, administered by the Canada Dept. of Marine and Fisheries (1920-1938) and the B.C. Came Commission (1938-1949).

British Columbia. Game Commission

Northern British Columbia Fish and Wildlife records

  • GR-1085
  • Series
  • 1909-1972

The series consists of records created between 1909 and 1972 by the Northern Division or Northern Region of the Fish and Wildlife Branch and the "D" Division of its predecessor bodies, that relate to the registration and administration of traplines and the trapping industry. For most of the years covered in these records, this division/region consisted of all of British Columbia north of a line from Quesnel to Bella Coola, including these two places as well as Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Queen Charlotte Islands, the Stikine region, Cassiar, McDames Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John and the Peace River region, the upper Fraser River valley of the McBride-Tete Jaune Cache area, the Nechako valley, the Skeena region, and the Prince George area.

The series include early files transferred from the B.C. Police, files regarding First Nations traplines, and individual trapline files, 1922-1969; records on registered guides, including guide report forms and nominal files, 1948-1972; crime investigation reports and conviction record books of violation of fish and game laws, 1930-1967; game management records including subject files on wildlife organization, management activities, and data on various species.

This series contains a large number of maps and sketches from 1909 to 1972, especially relating to the trapline and guide files. Many of these were removed from their files in 1982 and catalogued as two separate sub-series by the Map Division of the BC Archives. An index map of guiding territories was also removed.

See index map of guiding territories catalogued as CM/G6
See sub-series CM/E117 for trapline maps, 1909-1968
See sub-series CM/C2054 (previously CM/S2) for trapline sketches, 1922-1972.

British Columbia. Fish and Wildlife Branch

Fish and game records

  • GR-1109
  • Series
  • 1948-1966

The series consists of records created by the Game Commission (1948-1957) and the Fish and Game Branch (1957-1966). The series contains subject files relating to hunting accidents, firearms safety training, the transfer of the headquarters office from Vancouver to Victoria, wildlife management, private shooting areas, game fish culture, river and stream pollution and obstructions, water licences, and parks. The records relate to a wide variety of topics such as habitat protection, pollution, the impacts of resource extraction projects, impacts of recreation activities, wildlife management and fisheries management across the province.

The series also includes the personal monthly duty diaries of a conservation officer.

British Columbia. Game Commission

Fish and Wildlife operational records

  • GR-1114
  • Series
  • 1966-1978

The series consists of records created by the Fish and Wildlife Branch between 1966 and 1978. The records include subject files relating to game, wildlife and fisheries management and conservation, environmental protection and habitat improvement; the administration of fish and game laws, ecological and scientific investigations, pollution, pesticides, and protection of stream and river habitat, predator control and outdoor recreation.

The files consist of correspondence, annual reports and memoranda.

British Columbia. Fish and Wildlife Branch

Report on certain areas of the law relating to Indians in British Columbia

  • GR-1439
  • Series
  • 1975-1976

This series contains a report written in 1975, giving an overview of certain areas of the law relating to Indians in British Columbia, concentrating on Indian hunting, trapping and fishing, but also including material on a constitutional outline, the issue of Aboriginal Rights in British Columbia, Treaty Rights, Applicability of Provincial Laws on Reserves, miscellaneous notes and conclusions. The report includes a table of cases, a 1976 addendum, and references.

British Columbia. Fish and Wildlife Branch

Game Commission Manual

  • GR-1790
  • Series
  • 1956

Procedure Manual. "A consolidation of orders, regulations, information, and general routines in effect and which are to be strictly adhered to by the personnel of this Commission".

British Columbia. Game Commission

Ministry of Environment executive records

  • GR-4189
  • Series
  • 1977-1991

This series consists of executive records created by the Ministry of Environment, and its successor, the Ministry of Environment and Parks, from 1978-1991.

The records relate to all functions of the Ministry of Environment. This includes, but is not limited to, the creation and management of Provincial Parks, such as Strathcona; mining in parks; hunting; trapping and traplines; guide outfitters; fishing; Indigenous hunting and land rights; wildlife management, including wolf control; game farming; fish farms and aquaculture; water rights and management; Ministry centralization and reorganization; the privatization of Ministry functions, including the Environmental Lab; conservation and habitat management; water rights and water licences; flood prevention and mitigation; the creation and management of dams and dykes; land use; pollution, including air, chemical, solid waste and sewage; waste management, including landfills and sewage systems; coal mining; pesticides and herbicides; conservation officers, including enforcement and prosecutions; the drafting of legislation and orders-in-council; flood claims, control and prevention; and surveys and mapping.

Records include correspondence from the public and within government, briefing notes, meeting minutes, minister's speeches, Cabinet submissions, Treasury Board submissions, reports, agreements, legislation, variance orders, brochures, agreements, policies, procedures, maps and photos.

The records were created by the following executive:

Charles Stephen Rogers, Minister, 1979-1983
Anthony Julius Brummett, Minister, 1983-1985
Forbes Charles Austin Pelton, Minister, 1985-1986
Charles Stephen Rogers, Minister, 1986-1987
William Bruce Stracham, Minister, 1987-1989

Earle D Anthony, Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Regional Operations, 1979-1981
Earle D Anthony, ADM Environmental Management, 1982-1987
Earle D Anthony, ADM Programs, 1987-1988
Earle D Anthony, Acting DM, 1988
Richard L Dalon, Deputy Minister, 1988-[1990]
Ben E Marr, Deputy Minister, 1974-1987
Allan Murray, ADM Conservation, 1978-1979
Allan Murray, ADM Environmental Management, 1980-1982
Allan Murray, ADM Regional Operations, 1983-1985
GE Simmons, ADM, Environmental Management, 1979-1981
WN Venables, ADM Environmental Protection, 1979
WN Venables, ADM Assessment and Planning, 1980-1984

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment (1979-1986)

Department of Environment executive records

  • GR-4198
  • Series
  • 1958-1981 (predominantly 1970-1977)

This series consists of records created by the Ministry of the Environment, the Department of Environment and their predecessors departments, such as the Department of Lands, Forests and Water Resources. The majority of the records were created from 1970-1977.

Records relate to department administration, organization charts, reorganization, pollution control, water resources services and the agricultural land reserve.

The records relate to all functions of the Department of Environment. This includes, but is not limited to, the creation and management of the Department of the Environment; managing protected areas; hunting; trapping and traplines; guide outfitters; fishing; Indigenous hunting and land rights; wildlife management, including wolf control; game farming; fish farms and aquaculture; water rights and management; Ministry centralization and reorganization; the establishment of the Environmental Lab; conservation and habitat management; water rights and water licences; flood prevention and mitigation; the creation and management of dams and dykes; land use; pollution, including air, chemical, solid waste and sewage; waste management, including landfills and sewage systems; coal mining; pesticides and herbicides; conservation officers, including enforcement and prosecutions; the drafting of legislation and orders-in-council; flood claims, control and prevention; and surveys and mapping.

Records include correspondence from the public and within government, briefing notes, meeting minutes, minister's speeches, Cabinet submissions, Treasury Board submissions, reports, agreements, legislation, agreements, policies, procedures, maps and photos.

The records were created by the following executive:

Ray Gillis Williston, Minister of Lands, Forests and Water Resources, 1962-1972
Robert Arthur Williams, Minister of Lands, Forests and Water Resources, 1972-1975
James Arthur Nielson, Minister of Environment, 1975-1978
Kenneth Rafe Mair, Minister, 1978-1979
Charles Stephen Rogers, Minister, 1979-1983

Ben E Marr, Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Water Resources, 1973-1975
Ben E Marr, Deputy Minister, 1974-1987
Allan Murray, ADM Conservation, 1978-1979
V Raudsepp, DM, Water Resources, 1970-1973
GE Simmons, ADM, Water Resources, 1975
GE Simmons, ADM, Water and Air, 1976
GE Simmons, ADM, Environmental and Engineering, 1977-1978
GE Simmons, ADM, Environmental Management, 1979-1981
WN Venables, ADM Environmental Protection, 1979
Ed H Vernon, ADM, Conservation, 1974-1978

British Columbia. Dept. of Environment