|
Historic Records
Historic Records
 The LTSA gives high priority to preserving the extensive collection of historic land title and survey records.
While security of the title is protected through the Land Title Act and by the Assurance Fund, all of the original records held by the LTSA are useful for retracing historical land ownership and researching complex property boundary issues. These historic records are used by LTSA staff, lawyers, notaries and land surveyors to conduct their day-to-day business, and are also of interest to historians, First Nations, genealogists and environmental researchers.
Researchers refer to the records to obtain a wide variety of information including title, plan or other reference numbers, names, boundary descriptions and descriptions of rights that have been granted or reserved. Much of the information in the LTSA's historic records is not accessible elsewhere and, therefore, protection of these sources is critical.
 The LTSA is approaching this challenge through a multi-year program. The first step in the program involves cataloging the records and assessing their condition. This is followed by conservation actions needed to protect the records, while still enabling users reliable access to critical information in them. An independent, professional records archivist is continuing to conduct the historic records inventory and make recommendations for long-term management and preservation of the records. A professional conservationist is currently restoring and preserving records.
The preservation and security of historical records is regarded as an ongoing process by the LTSA. In the late summer of 2010, the LTSA will be consolidating the corporate office, the Surveyor General Division, and the Victoria Land Title Office at a new building at 1321 Blanshard Street in Victoria. The new premises will improve the working environment for those who access the LTSA's records and will include:
- A new state of-the-art, climate-controlled records vault to house BC's historic hardcopy land title and survey records;
- Enhanced document storage; and
- A document conservation laboratory for ongoing preservation and protection of the collection of historic records.
Read more about the LTSA's Management of Archival Collections to a new modern, secure facility in mid-2010.
For more information on historic records, please read the sections below:
|
