Interviews with Ric Careless and Bob Ahrens (Part 1 of 2)
Part of a collection of video oral history interviews with park pioneers, as well as some events, created by EKOS Communications in partnership with the Elders Council for Parks of British Columbia to commemorate the 100th anniversary of BC Parks in 2011. The Elders Council is an independent society, whose members are retired parks system employees and conservation advocates who have dedicated a significant portion of their lives to parks and protected areas in BC. These interviews served as source material for the documentary BC Parks: Celebrating 100 Years of Recreation and Protection. Standard questions were used in most of the interviews and included dates of employment/association with BC Parks, parks worked in, greatest challenges, accomplishments and regrets, lessons learned, hopes for provincial park system today and mentors.Part of Elders’ Council for Parks in British Columbia oral history interview series, collected for the documentary "BC Parks: Celebrating 100 Years of Recreation and Protection". Rick Searle interview with Rick Careless, and Rick Searle and Derek Thompson interview with Bob Ahrens (Part 1 of 2). Careless speaks about his involvement in protecting natural areas (1970-2006) through his work in the Sierra Club on Vancouver Island, Tatsheshini Wild/BC Spaces for Nature, the Wilderness Tourism Association and as a land resources specialist with BC Cabinet. He names the parks he is most familiar with, including Nitinat Triangle, Purcell Wilderness, Spatsizi, Height of the Rockies, Tatshenshini and Chilcotin. Amongst his memorable experiences, Careless lists demonstrations for Nitinat Triangle, meeting Princess Margaret and Chretien and his encounters with wildlife. He names protecting Tatshenshini as a major accomplishment. Careless mentions mentors such as Bob Williams, Brett Wallace (UVic), Brock Evans, Ken Farquharson and family. Throughout his interview, Careless voices his concerns about this generation keeping the legacy of protection alive and his wishes that the public connects with parks through personal experiences; these connections is what will make parks lands truly safe for the future. Ahrens speaks about his work with BC Parks (1949-1979) in roles as chief of planning, assistant director, director and deputy minister. He discusses his interest in nature, work in forestry industry and organization of BC Parks in the early years. Ahrens speaks about working in all of the parks at the time and explains the change in focus from multi-purpose parks close to urban areas to larger, more scenic park expansion under the 1970s government. He discusses park use and creation of "mischief designations" like wilderness areas and recreation areas. In terms of challenges, Ahrens names daily battles to protect natural integrity of the parks. He expresses regrets that funds were not available to acquire parkland in cheaper times and tells an anecdote about Kokanee Creek Park. Ahrens communicates dissatisfaction with the current parks system, particularly with their push for substantial developments/resorts. He speaks about a lack of public support for natural parks and expresses hope that this will change in the future. Ahrens discusses the interpretive program and the demise of the youth crew program. Camera shots show Careless with trees and shrubs in background and show Ahrens with railing and tree in background.
- In Collection:
- Careless, Ric, 1951-
- Ahrens, Bob
- Conservation of natural resources
- Conservation of natural resources--Societies, etc.
- Wildlife conservation
- Nature conservation
- Nature conservation--Societies, etc.
- Wilderness areas
- Biodiversity conservation
- Natural areas
- Parks--Conservation and restoration
- Parks
- National parks and reserves
- National parks and reserves--Management
- Parks--Employees
- Parks--Employees--Attitudes
- Parks--Management
- BC Parks
- Oral histories
- 00:53:49
- Ric Careless and Bob Ahrens [part 1, 2007] interviews
- Ric Careless and Bob Ahrens [2007:1] interviews
- 49.59986, -117.13552
- Sound and video tracks go out of sync around 6:52 and persist to end of interview. The Bob Ahrens interview continues in Interview with Bob Ahrens (Part 2 of 2).
- Elders Council for Parks in British Columbia
- Donated to the University of Victoria Archives on October 20, 2008 by Rick Searle (EKOS Communications).
- Accession Number: 2011-006
- 2011
- Migration metadata from UVicSpace to Vault by KD, Summer 2024.
- Rights
- This item is under copyright and made available on this site for research and private study only. Commercial use is prohibited. For all other uses please contact UVic Libraries' Special Collections and University Archives.
- DOI