Skip to content

Gary Runka posthumous recipient of this year's Land Champion award

Runka, a resident of Stuie, BC, passed away in July 2013.
85568bellacoolaGary001WEB
Formerly of Stuie

The Real Estate Foundation of BC announced last week that Gary Runka will be the posthumous recipient of this year's Land Champion award. Runka, a resident of Stuie, BC, passed away in July 2013.

The Land Champion is honoured for outstanding work in sustainable land use in BC. Runka, whose career spanned five decades, worked with public, private and non-profit sector groups to facilitate informed land use planning and natural resource management decisions.

He was the first manager of the BC Land Commission, forerunner of the Agricultural Land Commission, and directed multi-stakeholder processes to create land and resource management plans for BC regions. After his government career Runka led nearly 700 projects through his company, GG Runka Land Sense Ltd.

“Mr. Runka's impact on land use in BC is immense. He was effective as a public servant, consultant, volunteer, teacher and mentor, not only because of his vast professional knowledge, but also because of his ability to bring people together to cooperate on complex land and natural resource management issues. We are proud to name Gary Runka the 2014 Land Champion,” said Jack Wong, Foundation CEO.

Finalists are selected on their ability to demonstrate innovation, leadership and collaboration in sustainable land use in BC and are chosen in three categories: private sector, public sector and non-profit sector.