Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Peace Country Bison Association fonds |
| Reference code: | 0643 |
| Date: | [1985-2008] (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 74 cm textual records
341 photographs |
| Language: | English |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Likely processed by Patricia Greber. Exported from AoR and added to new database Jan 2025, JL Database conversion corrected and completed September 2025 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
The first meeting of the Peace Country Bison Association was held at the George Dawson Inn in Dawson Creek, B.C. in 1985. In attendance were Leon Poudrier, Tom Meerheimb, Bill Bickford, Matt Boake, Fern Mertens, Mr. & Mrs. Harry Sewell, and Don Patten, who became chairman and secretary. The Society was made up of members from both Alberta and British Columbia to service all bison producers in the Peace Country with meetings being held in both provinces.
In 1988 the PCBA was officially incorporated as a society in B.C. and not long after in Alberta. This was the first registered bison association in Canada. Its purpose was to promote, encourage, develop, and protect the bison industry in the Peace River area of Western Canada and to represent those persons producing and marketing bison in the Peace River area of Western Canada in all matters of interest.
The organization was involved in the local bison industry and also contributed to the industry Canada-wide. Some of the issues that the PCBA focused on were disease in the Wood Buffalo National Park, keeping the Wood Bison and Plains Bison bloodlines pure, exporting, importing, and the bison industry standards. PCBA also organized bison sales, field trips, and conferences locally for producers with members also attending bison events further afield.
PCBA was instrumental in much of the early research of bison in Canada. Many of the studies they conducted focused on their local area. The studies were conducted to help the producers effectively raise bison as well as to create a profitable bison industry. In 2004 the Bison Producers of Alberta was created with the Alberta members becoming part of Region 3 in BPA, and the BC members became part of the BC Bison Association. In November 2005, the Peace Country Bison Association was officially dissolved.
Custodial history
The records were donated by Adele Boucher, a member of the organization, in 2013, and an accrual was added by member Fran Moore.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of records relating to the operation and activities of the Peace Country Bison Association. The records include minutes, annual returns, membership lists, financial records, correspondence, events, a cookbook, and bison research. There is also a VHS tape titled “Last Great Buffalo Wagon Trek” which is a video of a covered wagon trip that took place in 2000.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Arrangement
The records have been arranged by the archivist by content and chronology into the various series and files.
Restrictions on access
There are no restrictions on access.
Accruals
No accruals are expected.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Graphic material (documentary form)
- Environment and nature (subject)
- Organizations (subject)
Table of contents
0643.01, Administrative Records, [1985-2008]
0643.02, Financial Records, [1988-2008]
0643.03, Correspondence, [1987-2008]
0643.04, Bison Sales and Conferences, [1986-2006]
0643.05, Publications, [1998-2005]
0643.06, Marketing, 1990 – 2005
0643.07, Bison Research, [1990-2006]
Series descriptions
| Series 0643.01: Administrative Records
Date: [1985-2008] (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of records relating to the administration of the Peace Country Bison Association. The records include minutes (1985-2007), the certificate of incorporation (1988), membership lists (1988-2004), employee records (2000-2003), and society records (1987-2008). Physical description: 24 cm textual records Language of the material: English Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| Series 0643.02: Financial Records
Date: [1988-2008] (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of records relating to the financial operations of the PCBA. The records include financial statements (1988-2005), financial records from various research projects (1992-2008), and insurance records (2001-2003). Physical description: 8 cm textual records Language of the material: English Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| Series 0643.03: Correspondence
Date: [1987-2008] (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of records relating to communications sent and received by the Peace Country Bison Association. The records include correspondence regarding events, bison sales, research, and conferences (1987-2000). Physical description: 4 cm textual records Language of the material: English Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| Series 0643.04: Bison Sales and Conferences
Date: [1986-2006] (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of records and photographs relating to bison sales and conferences that were organized or attended by Peace Country Bison Association members (1996-2002). The photographer was Bill Bouffoux, from XY Ranch at Fort St. John, B.C. A VHS tape from “The Last Great Buffalo Wagon Trek” that took place in 2000, with music and narration by Gary Fjellgaard. The video highlights three hundred people, driving forty two covered wagons and using two hundred horses to relive the pioneer experience. The participants were from all over the world and was a part of the bison conference held in Edmonton. The journey’s starting point was at the Simonette River then travelled west to the Northern Alberta hills and ended overlooking the Smoky River Valley. The photographs are of shows, sales, and auctions that the Peace Country Bison Association attended. Physical description: 12 cm textual records 341 photographs Language of the material: English Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) • Graphic material – photograph (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| File / item list | |||
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 0643.04.001-011b | Item – Fort Resolution Trip | 1986 | 12 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
A selection of photographs of a trip taken to Fort Resolution by members of the Peace Country Bison Association. |
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| 0643.04.012-019 | Item – Bison Grazing | ca. 1990 | 8 photographs : colour |
| Scope and content:
Bison grazing during the summer and winter. |
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| 0643.04.020-028 | Item – Cooking With Bison | ca. 1995 | 9 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
Dishes incorporating bison meat cooked by members of the Peace Country Bison Association. |
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| 0643.04.029-030 | Item – Bison Meat at Safeway | ca. 1995 | 2 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
The display of bison meat at the Safeway grocery store. |
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| 0643.04.031-034 | Item – Peace Country Bison Association Barbecue | ca. 1995 | 4 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
A Peace Country Bison Association barbecue. |
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| 0643.04.035-110 | Item – Bison Conventions | 1997-1998 | 76 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
A selection of photographs from the 1997 & 1998 Bison Conventions. |
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| 0643.04.111-163 | Item – Wild Rose Classic | 1998 | 53 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
A selection of photographs from the Wild Rose Classic in 1998. |
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| 0643.04.164-185 | Item – Peace Country Bison Assoc. Convention | 2000 | 22 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
A selection of photographs from the Peace Country Bison Assoc. Convention held in 2000. |
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| 0643.04.252-297 | Item – Wild Rose Classic | 2002 | 46 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in |
| Scope and content:
A selection of photographs from the Wild Rose Classic in 2002. |
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| 0643.04.298-306 | Item – Fort Vermilion Field Day | 2002 | 9 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
A selection of photographs from the Field Day in Fort Vermilion in 2002. |
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| 0643.04.307-331 | Item – Wild Rose Classic | 2003 | 25 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
A selection of photographs from the Wild Rose Classic in 2003. |
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| 0643.04.332-340 | Item – Peace Country Classic | 2003 | 9 photographs : colour ; 4 x 6 in. |
| Scope and content:
A selection of photographs from the Peace Country Classic held in 2003. |
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| Series 0643.05: Publications
Date: [1998-2005] (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of calendars (2000 – 2005), news clippings, newsletters, a cookbook that was created by PCBA, as well as miscellaneous recipes. There is also an incomplete set of the magazine Smoke Signals (1998-2004) published by Canadian Bison Association. Physical description: 13 cm textual records Language of the material: English Access points: • Graphic material (documentary form) • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| Series 0643.06: Marketing
Date: 1990 – 2005 (date of creation) Scope and content: Series consists of marketing study and strategy documents used by the Peace Country Bison Association and records of their membership in the Peace Country Brand Association. Physical description: 2 cm textual records Language of the material: English Note: 2025-09-19 – Marketing strategy and study documents were previously part of the Bison Research series but were moved here to start the Marketing series with the Peace Country Brand Association material that was not described in any series. Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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| Series 0643.07: Bison Research
Date: [1990-2006] (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of research and agreements that were supported and initiated by the Peace Country Bison Association. The PCBA was at the forefront of much of the early research about bison and the industry in general with the focus on the Peace Country. The research papers include: Feasibility of Bison Farming in Northeastern British Columbia, Factors affecting growth and productivity of Peace Country Bison, Reproductive function of bison females, Effect of time of year on average daily gain of feedlot finished bison, Feed-weigh station as a method of grain finishing bison, Economics of bison production practices in the Peace Country, Needs Assessment of Peace Country Agricultural Value-Added Entrepreneurs, Fort Vermilion Long-Term Grazing Initiative, A Strategic Plan for Research and Development Needs of the Canadian Bison Industry, Winter Grazing of Long Yearling Bison Bulls on Perennial Pasture Project Number:2000PR19, Determination of carcass characteristics of finished bison heifers, Carcass and quality characteristics of bison heifers compared to bison bulls and Bison meat quality research: An investigation of spray chilling, very fast chilling, and the relationship of grade factors to meat quality. There is also a file of information about bison fiber. Physical description: 13 cm textual records Language of the material: English Access points: • Textual record (documentary form) Publication status: Published |
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