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1929-2004 (Creation)
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39 m of textual records and other material
9,583 photographs
25,717 negatives
25,550 slides
95 film reels
64 video cassettes
11 audio reels
6 audio cassettes
3 drawings
23 maps
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Administrative history
In the early 1800s, the Grand River was a source of transportation, power and water for local communities. Settlement led to deforestation, intensive farming and urbanization, which began to hinder the natural cycles of the river. By the 1930s, river conditions had become so severe that annual floods, drought and pollution were affecting public health and the economic development of the communities up and down the Grand. The Grand River Conservation Commission: Sponsored by the Grand Valley Boards of Trade and modeled on the fledging Tennessee Valley Authority in the United States, the "Grand River Conservation Commission Act" was passed by the Province of Ontario in 1932. The commission was the first watershed management agency in Canada when it received its formal Letters Patent in August, 1934. This was the first time local municipalities had banded together to address water management issues on a watershed scale. The founding partner municipalities were Brantford, Galt, Kitchener, Fergus and Caledonia. William Philip of Galt was the first chairman, and the commission's head office was in Brantford. Other municipalities soon joined the partnership. In 1942 the commission completed the Shand Dam near Fergus, the first dam in Canada built for flood control, water supply and water quality purposes. This was followed by the Luther Marsh Dam in 1954 and the Conestogo Dam in 1958. Funding was shared between the federal and provincial governments, (each paid 37.5 per cent) and the local municipalities which paid 25 per cent. The commission also planted more than two million trees on their land and undertook some of the province's first large scale reforestation projects. The success of the commission, its watershed scope and municipal partnership model led to the Guelph Conference on Conservation in 1941, and the Conservation Authorities Act of Ontario in 1946. This new act led to the creation of 36 conservation authorities across the province. Grand Valley Conservation Authority: In 1948, the Grand River watershed municipalities formed their own Grand Valley Conservation Authority under this new act. This new agency had extended powers in the 1950s, which allowed it to acquire many wetlands, forests and natural areas in the watershed. The valley authority also acquired park land for camping, swimming, fishing and canoeing. Many of today's popular conservation areas, including Elora Gorge, Rockwood, Pinehurst Lake and Byng Island, were purchased and developed during this time. Grand River Conservation Authority: This new authority's objectives began to parallel those of the commission. Early provincial conservation authority publications even included the commission as a special section. The two agencies merged in 1966 to form today's Grand River Conservation Authority. The GRCA continues to operate under the Conservation Authorities Act of Ontario. It is a corporate body, through which municipalities work cooperatively to manage the water and natural resources in the watershed for everyone's benefit. (From GRCA website: http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=12&Sub1=47)
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The Grand River Conservation Commission was the first watershed management agency in Canada when it received its formal Letters Patent in August, 1934. This was the first time local municipalities had banded together to address water management issues on a watershed scale. The founding partner municipalities were Brantford, Galt, Kitchener, Fergus and Caledonia. William Philip of Galt was the first chairman, and the Commission's head office was in Brantford. Other municipalities soon joined the partnership.
"During the Depression, the federal and provincial governments were more interested in helping people by providing government relief. But the tide was turning: governments were thinking about large-scale public works projects that would provide jobs and help the economy. The federal government’s National Employment Commission supported a proposal for a dam across the Grand River. By April 1938, the province and federal government had each agreed to contribute 37.5 per cent of the project. This left the municipalities to cover the remaining 25 per cent, an amount they could manage. This was divided among the municipalities differently based on tax assessment and benefits such as water supply, flood protection and sewage disposal. A second Grand River Conservation Commission Act was passed by the province in 1938 to broaden the commission’s responsibilities so it could manage the construction projects."
In 1942 the Commission completed the Shand Dam near Fergus, the first dam in Canada built for flood control, water supply and water quality purposes. This was followed by the Luther Marsh Dam in 1954 and the Conestogo Dam in 1958. The Commission also planted more than two million trees on their land and undertook some of the province's first large scale reforestation projects.
The success of the Commission, its watershed scope and municipal partnership model led to the Guelph Conference on Conservation in 1941, and the Conservation Authorities Act of Ontario in 1946. This new act led to the creation of 36 conservation authorities across the province. In fact, the commission supported the creation of the Grand Valley Conservation Authority in 1948 and the two organizations — the GVCA and GRCC had the same chair, William Philip of Galt. They amalgamated in 1966 to form the present day Grand River Conservation Authority and are the two founding organizations of the Grand River Conservation Authority.
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Fonds consists of records relating to the administration and operation of the Grand River Conservation Authority and its predecessors, the Grand River Conservation Commission and the Grand Valley Conservation Authority, from 1966 to 2006. Includes clippings, correspondence, minutes, visual and sound materials, reports and studies, topographical maps, etc. Fonds is comprised of the following series: 1. Incorporation : Acts and Bills 2. Organization and Administration 3. Board Minutes : Grand River Valley Boards of Trade 4. Board Minutes : Grand River Conservation Commission 5. Board Minutes : GRCC Executive Committee 6. Board Minutes : Grand Valley Conservation Authority 7. Board Minutes : Grand River Conservation Authority 8. Annual Meetings : Budget Information Packages 9. Board Committee Files 10. Administration : Financial Files 11 to 13. Administration Departments : Communications 14. Administration : Flood Warning Systems 15. Administration : Flood Inquiry, 1974 16. Administration : Legal 17. Administration : Personnel 18. Administration : Summer Student Employment Programs 19. Secretary Treasurer's Files : Ilmar Kao 20. Administration : Secretary Treasurer : Correspondence 21. Operations : Dams : H.A. Cameron Files 22. Operations : Divisions : Forestry and Wildlife Branch 23. Publicity : Clippings : Originals : Large Scrapbooks 24 to 27. Publicity : Clippings 28. Publications 29 to 47. Resources : GRCA Library 48 to 50. Visual : Moving Images : Films 51 to 53. Visual : Moving Images : Videocassettes 54. to 57. Visual : Moving Images : DVDs 58. Visual : Negatives Binders 59 to 61. Visual : Photographs 62. Visual : Slides : Carousels 63 to 67. Visual : Slides : Donations 68 to 69. Visual : Slides : Historic 70 to 77. Visual : Slides 78 to 79. Sound Recordings 80. Visual : Artwork 81. Maps and Plans 82. Artifacts
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Donated by the Grand River Conservation Authority in 2005.
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Open
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