Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on the Forest Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).
Level of description
Reference code
Edition area
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)
-
1942-1989 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
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 Dept. of Lands was established in 1908 (Department of Lands Act, SBC 1908, c. 31). Before 1908 the agencies responsible for the functions of the Dept. of Lands: (1) the Dept. of Lands and Works (Crown lands management, sales, pre-emptions and leases, lands surveying and mapping, timber inspection, forest protection and log scaling), and (2) the Dept. of Mines (water rights in regards to mining operations).
The Dept. of Lands, headed by the Chief Commissioner of Lands, was given responsibility for public lands and water rights, and all matters connected therewith. (SBC 1908, c. 31, s. 5). These responsibilities included: (1) the management of all public lands, as per the Land Act, (RSBC 1897, c. 113); (2) administration of water rights, as per the Water Clauses Consolidation Act, (RSBC 1897, c. 191) [in 1892 by means of the Water Privileges Act (SBC 1892, c. 47), the government had reserved to itself the right to manage all water resources in the province that were unreserved and un-appropriated as of April 23, 1892]; and (3) land settlement programs for returned soldiers.
In 1909, the enactment of the Water Act (SBC 1909, c. 48) resulted in the creation of the Water Rights Branch of the Dept. of Lands, under the management of the Chief Water Commissioner (re-named Comptroller of Water Rights in 1912). This legislation also resulted in the creation of Water Districts under the management of District Engineers, who would be responsible for management in the field of the Branch’s responsibilities.
In 1911, the Timber Department, including Timber Inspectors, forest protection services and log scaling operations, was transferred from the Dept. of Public Works to the Dept. of Lands. In 1912, the management of timber resources was formally added to the department’s responsibilities with the enactment of the Forest Act (SBC 1912, c. 17). To accommodate these new responsibilities, the Forest Branch, under the Chief Forester, was created in the Dept. of Lands. In 1945, the Dept. of Lands was renamed the Dept. of Lands and Forests (Department of Lands Act Amendment Act, SBC 1945, c. 45).
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Ministry of Forests and Lands was established in 1986 as the successor to the Dept. of Forests (OIC 1491/86). As part of this reorganization, the functions relating to Crown lands were taken from the Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing and merged with with this new ministry. The ministry was responsible for the management of crown land resources of the Crown and the planned use of such land. The department was also responsible for encouraging maximum productivity of those resources.
The Ministry was organized into four divisions, each led by an assistant deputy minister. These divisions included: Forestry; Timber and Lands Marketing; Forests and Land Operations; and Management Services.
The Assistant Deputy Minister of the Forestry Division was also the Chief Forester. The Forestry Division's branches included: Integrated Resources (Planning, Recreation and Range); Inventory; Research; Silviculture; and Protection. The Forest Regions were the responsibility of the Forest and Lands Operations Division. The Timber and Land Marketing Division consisted of two distinct sections: Timber (Timber Harvesting and Industry Development and Marketing); and Lands (Land Policy, Land Acquisition and Marketing, Surveyor-General).
This reorganization expanded the responsibilities of the former Ministry of Forests to include activities relating to the marketing, settlement, surveying, and disposal of Crown Lands.
In August 1988 the Ministry of Forests and Lands reverted to the name Ministry of Forests. Responsibilities for Crown lands were transferred to the newly established Ministry of Crown Lands.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Custodial history
Scope and content
Series consists of timber sale licence files from the Kamloops Forest District. These licences provide a licensee with the right to harvest timber in a specified area.
Each file documents the issuance, administration and cancellation of timber licences as per the Forest Act. The majority of the files in this series date from 1970-1989 although there are also some files that date back to 1942. The records are from the Kamloops Forest region.
The files consist primarily of copies of the licence, applications, maps, status clearance forms, harvesting inspection reports, renewal forms, deletion notices, correspondence and reports. There are also some cash timber licences in this series (boxes 168-172) that contain cash timber licence permits.
The ministry assigned A numbers to the files which have been assigned sequentially. There are many gaps in the numbering since the central ministry office and other forest regions also used the same numbering system and the ministry only transferred cancelled licence files to the archives. There are also some files that have been classified with an “LKS” or “X” number.
The majority of the files contain two parts. These were attached to both sides of the file folder are front to front. One part consists of a copy of the licence and other legal documents whereas the second consists of related correspondence, forms and reports.
The records were created by the Kamloops Forests District as part of the following ministries:
1942-1945 Dept. of Lands
1945-1962 Dept. of Lands and Forests
1962-1975 Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources
1975-1976 Dept. of Forests
1976-1986 Ministry of Forests
1986-1988 Ministry of Forests and Lands
1988-1989 Ministry of Forests
The records have been classified as 19620-25 in the Forest ORCS. The ministry also assigned a classification number of 850-5 to many of the files.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
A file list is available.
According to the Forests Operational Classification System, the ministry created A number registers (ORCS 19620-04). These registers have not been transferred to the archives. Researchers are therefore advised to contact the ministry to view these registers in order to identify specific files by name of applicant and/or forestry district.
Associated materials
Accruals
General note
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- British Columbia. Dept. of Lands (Subject)
- British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests (Subject)
- British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (Subject)
- British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (Subject)
- British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986) (Subject)
- British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Lands (Subject)
- British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-2005) (Subject)