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archival descriptions

Item consists of Rick Searle interview with Robert (Bob) Williams. Williams speaks about his involvement with BC Parks and protected areas in his role as Minister of Recreation and Conservation and Minister of Land, Forest and Water Resources (1972-1975). Williams discusses his portfolio and several cabinets, committees and secretariats he was involved with during his time and characterizes 1972-1975 as a time of great productivity. For example, several major park developments took place, which doubled parks from 3M acres to 6M acres. He sees this expansion, which resulted in such parks as Spatsizi, Kwadacha, Carp Lake, Mt. Assiniboine, Cape Scott, Okanagan Mountain and Purcell Wilderness, as his major accomplishments.

Wiliams faced few major challenges in his work since environmental issues were not yet fully formed, he had a small cabinet and good relations with colleagues and also enjoyed a certain level of freedom. If he could change anything, he speaks of his political party taking a more moderate approach which might have allowed them to stay in office longer. Williams touches on successes in the Ministry’s structure at the time, including capacity at community level, decentralization and local management. He counts this decentralized structure as a lesson learned and stresses the importance of empowering local people for success. Wiliams’ future hopes and wishes for BC parks include finding more diverse sensitivity and a wide-range of uses in “mixed zones.” The interview ends with a listing of Williams’ mentors, including Bob Aherns, Alister Crerar, Ric Careless, Bristol Foster and various conservation, fish and wildlife groups.

Camera shots show Bob Williams on a wharf in Penticton with water and hills in the background; interviewer seen at end of interview; plane heard in background at one point during the interview.

Don Gough interview

Item consists of Rick Searle interview with Donald (Don) George Gough. Gough speaks about his employment with BC Parks (1967-2002), and the contract work he still does today. He lists the parks he worked in, including Emory Creek and Manning Park, plus the various roles he played, including district manager in three districts.

Green discusses his most memorable experiences, which include being the construction foreman for Lightning Lakes campground in Manning Park, working with Tony Hammond, the youth crew program, managing Manning Park and his role as Okanagan district manager. He names his biggest accomplishments, such as construction at Lightning Lake, reconstruction of Mule Deer; building in the Okanagan; extensions at Bear Creek, South park, North park; Okanagan Falls; and Haines Point. Green would like to be remembered for being a fair manager, a people person and someone who was respected by staff and NGOs. He discusses some of the challenges he met in his work, such as getting processes in place to build facilities, staff management and working with public groups and First Nations. He talks about the lessons he learned about respecting those you work with and tells an anecdote about taking “old timers” into Cathedral Lakes. In conclusion, Green speaks about his hopes for BC Parks and names mentors, such as Tom Moore, Herb Green, Ian Leeman and Joe Hilton.

Camera shots show Don Gough at Okanagan Lake Park with tree and water in the background. Interviewer seen at very end. Last minute of footage shows scenic shots of the lake and scenery.