Printer FriendlyBC Forest Service Links & Resources
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Web Pages
Against the Tide – A 16-minute documentary video which combines old and new footage to tell the stories of the people who once worked on the vessels of the B.C. Forest Service. Two part video on our YouTube channel.
Aleza Lake Research Forest – The Aleza Lake Research Forest is a 9000 ha university-based outdoor research facility and working forest 60 km east of Prince George, BC . The mandate of the Research Forest is to provide research and education facilities and opportunities to the University of Northern BC, the University of BC faculties or institutes, other universities, government agencies, private sector research, schools and other educational groups with regards to ecosystem and resource management studies within the wet sub-boreal spruce biogeoclimatic zone. Contact: Kathleen Olson, Office and Outreach Administrator Aleza Lake Research Forest, 250-960-6339, olson@unbc.ca
Annual Reports of the British Columbia Forest Service
BC Forest Discovery Centre – this BC Forest Service Museum, which was stored in large wooden cases for years, finally found a permanent home at the BC Forest Disovery Centre in Duncan. To accommodate most of the collection, the former Ranger Station that sat just south of the Cowichan River on the Island Highway and its four-bay garage were physically moved to the then BC Forest Museum at the corner of the Island Highway and Drinkwater Road. Like most museums, the majority of the collection is stored and those artifacts and ephemera suitable for a Ranger Station now adorn that building. For more information about the BC Forest Discovery Centre, visit their web page.
BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Library
BC Parks: Celebrating 100 years of Recreation and Protection – Video sponsored by Elders Council for Parks.
Cowichan Valley Forest History – Stories of the men and women of the Cowichan Valley Forest Industry; maps of areas of importance; a photo archive that includes a section of old advertisements that pertain to the forest industry of those times; a section of old camp recipes; and plenty of other forestry-related materials.
Forest History Association of British Columbia – This association encourages the collection, preservation, cataloguing, and use of historical material related to the conservation, management, and utilization of the forests of the province.
Good Timber 2012 Tour – A rollicking musical revue celebrating a time when loggers climbed trees. Based on the logger poetry of Robert E. Swanson, the Bard of the Woods, this amazingly talented ensemble has created a show of songs and stories played against a multimedia backdrop of rarely-seen archival imagery.
History of the BC Forest Service – Brief history of the BC Forest Service.
Ministry Reports – (AR) - Annual Reports (IWR) - Integrated Wildlife Intensive Forestry Research (LMR) - Land Management Reports (LTSPS) - LTSPS Research Notes (MR) - Miscellaneous Reports (RC) - Royal Commision Reports (REC) - Recreation (RN) - Research Notes (WHR) - Wildlife Habitat Research
Olympic moments for the B.C. Forest Service – For complete with video and slide show of a spectacular demonstration of the aircraft B.C. uses to fight wildfires, see http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/pab/media/bell/2010/02/23b/.
Salmon Arm Museum – When the announcement of the closure of the FS office in Salmon Arm came out in 2002, the staff decided to do something to commemorate the history of the FS in the area. There was an old fire look-out on Queest Mtn which was scheduled for dismantling. The staff went up and dismantled the building, transported it to a new location and spent several months painting, nailing and reconstructing the look-out. The Queest look-out now resides at the Haney Heritage museum site in Salmon Arm. Any artifacts they had in the office were donated to the museum and are on display in the look-out. The artifacts donated include: a range finder, old uniforms, some old pamphlets, a copy of a diary of a look-out employee supplied by Glen Allen of Kamloops, steel chain, air photos, and maps.
Timeline history of BC Forest Service – Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Chief Foresters and name changes of the B.C. departments and ministries (which have contained the Forest Service).
Papers
"100 Years of Collaboration between the BCFS and Canadian Forest Service (CFS)" Theme Paper – The British Columbia Forest Service (BCFS) and the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) have a long history of collaboration across a wide range of functions and topics. This includes research, technology transfer and extension, co-management and delivery of Federal-Provincial agreements, and partnering on national and international initiatives. As the BCFS approaches its centennial, it is interesting to examine the achievements that have come from this 100-year relationship. The nature of the various projects and initiatives undertaken over the years reflect the evolving nature of forest management, and the relative strengths of the CFS and BCFS have contributed to successful outcomes in many collaborative initiatives. To view this document, you must have Adobe Reader (www.adobe.com) installed. Click on the "View" link above. Authors are Brian Peter and Henry Benskin Published in September 2011
"Aircraft and their use in Forestry: 1918 - 1926" Theme Paper – The rapid growth of technology which took place during WWI made possible the application of innovations to increase the effectiveness of forest fire detection and suppression operations. The airplane was one such development...
"First Interior Nursery and Plantation in the Interior" Theme Paper – In 1947, the Forest Service decided to look into the possibility of a reforestation program in the interior of BC A site near Elko was chosen for a forest nursery in the yellow pine region of the southern interior.
"Statutes and Legislation Governing the BCFS" Theme Paper – This document is a high-level summary of legislation governing the business of the Forest Service from 1912 to 2011. Ralph Archibald has attempted to review all statutes, and amendments to statutes, introduced by the Minister responsible for the Forest Service during this period and to identify the significant policy shifts.
"A branch history paper for the 75th anniversary of the BC Forest Service" – by Einar Karv - history of the Engineering Branch. BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 BCMF ENG 1987 MR 2.
"B.C. Forest Service : a Proud Past" – 18 minute videocassette recording. BC MFR Library Call #: VIDEO 6.
"BC Forest Service Centenary Society Theme Papers for 2012" – A collection of papers outlining history of various subjects, such as Forest Service aircraft, the BCFS Oval, IT, Visual Resource Management, etc. Volunteer writers needed.
"Bibliography and list of readings for history of the B.C. Forest Service" – as compiled by John Parminter.
"Biographies for ministers, executives, directors, Ministry of Forests" – by Doug E. Adderley - contains brief bibliographic information and some photographs. BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 BCMF A 1984 MR 25.
"Comparison of the U.S. Forest Service with the B.C. Forest Service" – by J.A.K. Reid. BC MFR Library Call #: 354.711008233 R356
"Events: Legislation, 1842-1979" – an introduction to Forest Service history to clarify the roles played by individuals and the reasons for decisions which have influenced the direction of the development of the Forest Service and its place in the general history of the province. BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 BCMF INF 1986 MR 4.
"Forest Tenure and Management in British Columbia" – Legislative Library of British Columbia, November 2009. This paper surveys the evolution of forest tenure and management in British Columbia.
"Historical Administrative and Personnel Tables, 1913-1981." – BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 BCMF INF 1982 MR 2
"Historical Headquarters Staff and Organization Tables, 1888-1979." – BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 BCMF INF 1982 MR 3
"History of Cowichan Lake Research Station" – by Ralph Schmidt. This transcript is taken from a slide presentation given on June 15, 1991. BC MFR Call #: 634.909711 BCMF A 1992 MR 7.
"History of Information Technology in the BC Forest Service" – by Fred Beinhauer. A story written for the Forest Service Centennial
"Inventory: a Theme Paper" – examines the pattern and development of innovative administration in inventory. BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 BCMF INF 1981 MR 3.
"Protection: a Theme Paper" – examines the pattern and development of innovative administration in Protection. BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 BCMF INF 1986 MR 3.
"Silviculture: a Theme Paper." – BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 BCMF INF 1986 MR 1.
BC Forest Service Oval Theme Paper 2011 – No one knows who designed the very first version of the BC Forest Service Oval, but we do know there have been numerous versions made over the years...
Books / Magazines
55 Years in the Vancouver Forest District/Coast Forest Region of the British Columbia Forest Service – a chronicle of the people, their stories and events, 1950 to 2005 (revised edition) by J.H. Carradice. BC MFR Library Call #: 354.711008232 C311 2007.
A History of the Boundary Forest District – by Greg Belyea et al. Includes CD which contains all of the pictures and information in the book. BC MFR Library Call #: 354.55097116 B454 2002.
Aleza Lake Experiment Station, 1920's and 1930's – This transcript is taken from a slide presentation given by Ralph Schmidt at the annual meeting of the Northern Silviculture Committee in Prince George, July 8, 1992. BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 BCMF RES 1993 MR 4.
BC Forest Service : a history of the Forest Service in the North Thompson Region – by M.E. (Mel) Monteith. BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 M65 1993.
Cariboo Forest Region : Memories, 1972-2003 – A compilation of stories, newspaper articles and photos. BC MFR Library Call #: 354.55097117 BCMF 2003.
Forest Ranger Ahoy: 1912-1984 – by Robin Lakenes. A history of the marine division of the Forest Service. BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 BCMF A 1984 MR 26.
Forest Ranger, Ahoy : the men, the ships, the job – by Michael G. Coney. BC MFR Library Call #: 354.711008233 C747.
ForesTalk Resource Magazine – From 1973 to 1983 the BC Forest Service published a quarterly magazine called ForesTalk. The magazine highlighted current forest issues and provided multiple perspectives on how they should be managed. ForesTalk was highly regarded for its balanced approach at a time when environmental and economic considerations where highly polarized.
Forests, Power and Policy - The Legacy of Ray Williston – by by Eileen Williston and Betty Keller, printed by Caitlin Press Inc. BC MFR Library Call #: 971.104092 W736
Invermere Forest District Memory Book. – BC MFR Library Call #: 354.55097116 I62 2002.
Life and Times of Martin Grainger – by Janet Katharine Booth. BC MFR Library Call #: 634.90924 B725.
Organization of the Ministry of Forests 1912-1978 – by Joan Booth. BC MFR Library Call #: 354.711008232 B862.
Political and Ministry Personalities, 1842-1982 – A table of senior executive and political personnel. BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 BCMF INF 1986 MR 2.
Riding the Skyline – by M. Allerdale Grainger. BC MFR Library Call #: 917.115 G743R.
Under These Waters: Williston Lake: Before it Was – An abbreviated account of Norm Unrau's involvement in a particularly exciting adventure in the mid sixties. For three years his work was in the forest clearing end of the project called “Peace River Pondage”.
What's all this got to do with the price of 2x4's? – by Mike Apsey: as told to Ken Drushka and Matt Hughes. BC MFR Library Call #: 333.750971 A654 2006
Woodsmen of the West – by M. Allerdale Grainger. BC MFR Library Call #: 634.909711 G743
