Vancouver (B.C.). Board of Works

Identity area

Type of entity

Corporate body

Authorized form of name

Vancouver (B.C.). Board of Works

Parallel form(s) of name

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

Other form(s) of name

  • Board of Works (1886-1955)
  • Committee on Works and Property (1887-1916)
  • Committee on Works (1916-1937)
  • Committee on Works and Water (1937-1956)

Identifiers for corporate bodies

Description area

Dates of existence

1886-1955

History

One of the standing committees of City Council, the Board of Works was established in 1886 and existed until 1955 at which time it was dissolved and its functions and responsibilities were taken over by the newly established Board of Administration. While active, the Board of Works was the supervising body for the Engineering Department, and primarily reported to Council on matters related to the planning, development, construction, maintenance and repair of public works. The Board of Works also shared responsibility with the Engineering Department for the water works with the Water Works Committee (also known as the Board of Water). This latter committee was abolished in 1936; its functions were then taken over by the Board of Works.
Though usually referred to as the Board of Works, the committee’s official name changed a number of times:
• Board of Works (1886)
• Committee on Works and Property (1887)
• Committee on Works (1916)
• Committee on Works and Water (1937)
The membership of the Board of Works consisted of a number of aldermen appointed annually by City Council. There was also a Secretary to the Board, hired by the City Engineer, who acted as the administrating link between the Board of Works, the City Engineer, and the Engineering Department.

Functions

The duties of the Board, which did not change substantially over time, were:
a) to direct and control the work of the City Engineer and the Engineering Department;
b) to advise City Council on matters regarding the work and functions of the Engineering Department;
c) to prepare and introduce to Council all by-laws necessary for the execution of the work of the Engineering Department;
d) to ensure that all by-laws and resolutions of Council regarding the Engineering Department were put into effect;
e) to report to Council on the work and finances of the Engineering Department;
f) and to confer with other committees of Council and other bodies as necessary.

Sources of Authority

The duties and functions of the Board of works can be found in a succession of procedural bylaws (#32 in 1887; #220 in 1894; #516 in 1894; #960 in 1916; #1953 in 1929; #2439 in 1937; and #2462, also in 1937).

Places

Legal status

Functions, occupations and activities

Mandates/sources of authority

Internal structures/genealogy

General context

Relationships area

Related entity

Vancouver (B.C.). Engineering Services (1886-)

Identifier of related entity

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Dates of relationship

1886-1955

Description of relationship

Vancouver (B.C.). Engineering Services, is subordinate to: Vancouver (B.C.). Board of Works

Related entity

Vancouver (B.C.) (1886-)

Identifier of related entity

Category of relationship

hierarchical

Dates of relationship

Description of relationship

Vancouver (B.C.). Board of Works, is subordinate to: Vancouver (B.C.)

Related entity

Vancouver (B.C.). Water Works Committee

Identifier of related entity

Category of relationship

associative

Dates of relationship

1936

Description of relationship

Vancouver (B.C.). Board of Works, assumed responsibility for the functions of: Vancouver (B.C.). Water Works Committee

Access points area

Subject access points

Place access points

Occupations

Control area

Authority record identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Last modified 18-12-2012 by KO

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Maintenance notes

  • Clipboard

  • Export

  • EAC

Related subjects

Related places