Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Provincial Game Warden records
General material designation
- textual record
Parallel title
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Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of the series.
Level of description
Series
Reference code
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Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1905-1927 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
21.7 m of textual records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
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Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The 1898 Game Protection Act (SBC 1898, Ch. 24) first consolidated all provincial legislation regarding protection of animals, birds and fish. BC Provincial Police (BCPP) constables and other peace officers were to implement the legislation by bringing offenders before a Justice of the Peace (JP). This organizational structure held until 1905 despite amendments to the legislation (SBC 1902, Ch. 28; SBC 1903-04, Ch. 21.)
The position of Provincial Game and Forest Warden was established by a 1905 amendment (SBC 1905, Ch. 25). This officer, who could be assisted by Deputy Game and Forest Wardens, was instructed by the legislation to "give his entire time and attention to the game, forestry, and fishing interests of the Province, conduct prosecutions and see that all laws having reference to game, forestry and fish are enforced." (Sec. 17) Peace officers remained generally responsible for enforcing game protection laws. A. Bryan Williams (A.B.W.), 1866-1946, was the first Provincial Game and Forest Warden and held this position from its establishment in 1905 until 1918.
The first significant structural change after the position was established was a 1909 amendment (SBC 1909, Ch. 20), which removed forestry from the Provincial Warden's responsibilities. At this point, the position was re-titled Provincial Game Warden. In 1914, the legislation became known simply as the Game Act (SBC 1914, Ch. 33).
Name of creator
Biographical history
A 1909 amendment of the Game Protection Act (SBC 1909, Ch. 20) removed forestry functions from the Provincial Game and Forest Warden, changing the name to Provincial Game Warden. In 1914, the legislation became known simply as the Game Act (SBC 1914, Ch. 33).
The program's entire organizational structure was changed in a 1918 amendment (SBC 1918, Ch. 30). The title of Provincial Game Warden was retained, but it lost its status as a separate function with its own staff. Henceforth, the Superintendent of Provincial Police was to serve as Provincial Game Warden in the course of his other duties. All BC Provincial Police (BCPP) constables and officers became Deputy Game Wardens (DGWs) in addition to their other responsibilities. The post of Chief Game Inspector was also to be filled from within BCPP ranks. The BCPP, acting as Provincial and Deputy Game Wardens, focused primarily on enforcement measures.
Under the new structure, responsibility for policy development and overall direction of the province's game management programs was turned over to a newly created Game Conservation Board. This unpaid board, whose members were to be selected by the provincial cabinet, was to meet four times per year to "receive and consider suggestions for the conservation, propagation, and importation of game, and advise the Lieutenant-Governor in Council upon all matters arising under this Act." (SBC 1918, Ch. 30) A. Bryan Williams, who had served as Provincial Game Warden since the post was created in 1905, resigned when the new structure was adopted.
This new organizational structure consisted of the voluntary Game Conservation Board with overall responsibility for administration of the Game Act, and the BCPP with responsibility for enforcement of the legislation. The Attorney General was the minister responsible for game management during this period.
Other relevant amendments to the Game Act over these years include: SBC 1902, Ch. 28; SBC 1903-04, Ch. 21; SBC 1905, Ch. 25; SBC 1908, Ch. 18; SBC 1909, Ch. 20; SBC 1910, Ch.22; RSBC 1911, Ch. 95; SBC 1913, Ch. 27; SBC 1914, Ch. 33; SBC 1918, Ch. 30; SBC 1919, Ch. 29; SBC 1920, Ch. 30; and SBC 1922, Ch. 27. Some of the more significant amendments included the 1913 provisions for licensing of firearms and of guides.
In 1929 the Board was abolished, and a Game Commissioner was appointed, responsible for both the Board and Warden's functions.
Custodial history
Scope and content
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
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Transferred from various government ministries over time. Records accessioned by the BC Archives between 1980 and 1991.
Arrangement
This collection was compiled from several sets of Provincial Game Warden materials that were transferred to the Provincial Archives of B.C. at various times. The records that were initially processed are located in containers GR0446-0001 to GR-0446-0167 or containers 1 to 167.
Some files were located by the archives after the initial 167 boxes of records were processed. They are located in the following separate boxes, but have been added to their relevant location in this file list.
Files from accession G88-092 are in container 913432-0029
Files from accession G80-078 are in container 913432-1027
Files from accession G80-045 are in container 913432-0972
Files from accession G91-033 are in container 913432-1215
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no access restrictions.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Finding aid: file/item list. http://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Document/Finding_Aids_Atom/GR-0001_TO_GR-0500/gr-0446.pdf
Associated materials
Accruals
General note
Accession number(s): G80-146, G88-092, G80-078, G80-045, G91-033
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
- Firearms--Law and legislation--British Columbia
- Fishing--British Columbia
- Game protection--British Columbia
- Game laws
- Law enforcement--British Columbia
- Leisure--British Columbia
- Licenses--British Columbia
- Wildlife management--British Columbia
- World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives
- Hunting--British Columbia
- Indigenous peoples--British Columbia--Government relations
- Indigenous peoples--Legal status, laws, etc.--British Columbia
Place access points
Name access points
- British Columbia. Game Conservation Board (Subject)
- British Columbia. Provincial Game and Forest Warden (Subject)
- British Columbia. Provincial Police Force (Subject)
- British Columbia. Dept. of the Attorney-General (Subject)
- British Columbia. Provincial Game Warden (Subject)
- British Columbia. Superintendent of Police (Subject)