Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Fraser Valley University Society fonds
General material designation
- Photographic materials
- Moving images
- Textual records
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of the fonds is based on the name of its creator.
Level of description
Fonds
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1983 - 1998, predominant 1991 - 1998 (Creation)
- Creator
- Fraser Valley University Society
Physical description area
Physical description
2.52 m of textual records
47 photographs
27 slides
54 negatives
3 moving images
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Fraser Valley University Society was established on February 5, 1991. Founding members of the Society included members of several Canadian Federation of University Women's clubs, particularly Karen Yong and Sharon Shilliday of the Delta University Women's Club; members of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board; as well as individuals and representatives of organizations from communities throughout the Fraser Valley. Many of these individuals had been involved in a predecessor group, the Fraser South University Society, which had been established by Yong and Shilliday in November 1990.
The Society's mandate was to "ensure the development of appropriate legislation creating a new university in the Fraser Valley." The main purposes of the Society were: to further the development of university education in the Fraser Valley by encouraging the Provincial Government to legislate the establishment of an independent, degree-granting institution; to foster public education initiatives promoting the social, economic and cultural value of a university; to actively pursue excellence in university education for all communities in the Fraser Valley; and to improve access to university education.
The Society was headed by an elected Board of Directors. The Board of Directors appointed the following officer positions: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Committees, headed by a Chair, were created to carry out the objectives of the Society. The original five committees of the society were the Public Relations Committee, Community Relations Committee, Fundraising Committee, Membership Committee, and the Government Committee. The first President of the Society was Karen Yong. She was succeeded in 1993 by Robert (Bob) Lowe, who remained President until the Society's dissolution. At its height, membership in the Society was over 1,100 members.
The Society enlisted the assistance of local government and community organizations in its efforts. From its inception, the Society received financial and other support, including office space in Surrey, from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. Other funds were obtained through government grant applications, membership fees, donations, and fundraising events. The Society also concentrated on promotional and community relations activities. Members collected over 7,000 petition signatures, set up information kiosks in malls and at public events, made presentations to local groups, solicited media coverage of Society events and activities, and distributed promotional material. The Society created and collaborated on several reports concerning the need for post-secondary education in the Fraser Valley, and established relationships with members of local and provincial governments.
In 1994 the Society began to place increased pressure on the Provincial Government and, after many meetings and much correspondence, Premier Mike Harcourt announced in February 1995 his government's support for the creation of a Technical University in the Fraser Valley (the Technical University of British Columbia). In May 1995 Society Board member Sharon Shilliday was appointed to the Interim Planning Council for the University; the Council became part of the Technical University Society of British Columbia when it was registered on August 10, 1995.
As a result of the Government's commitment to the creation of a new university, the Society evolved into a public foundation responsible for raising funds for the Technical University of British Columbia and its students. The Society's constitution was amended in August 1996 to reflect this change in mandate. In February 1998, a unanimous decision was made to dissolve the Society and transfer its fundraising responsibilities, as well as accumulated funds, assets, and records to the Technical University of British Columbia. Fundraising responsibilities were assumed by the University's new Vice-President External Affairs and Research. At an extraordinary meeting of the Society on April 28, 1998, the Society was dissolved.
Custodial history
The records remained in the custody and control of the Society until its dissolution in 1998, at which time they were transferred into the custody and control of the Technical University of British Columbia.
Scope and content
Fonds consists of records relating to the activities of the Fraser Valley University Society and its role in the establishment of the Technical University of British Columbia. Activities, events, and topics documented include the formation of the Society; the Society's organization, structure and membership; general administration and correspondence; management of the Society's budget and financial resources; Board, committee, and other meetings; community outreach and promotion; fundraising; research; and the Society's development of relationships with municipal and provincial government bodies.
Records include correspondence; minutes and agendas; organizational charts, constitutions, by-laws, mission statements, policies and procedures; budgets and financial statements; reports; subject files; member and donor lists; speeches; newsletters, promotional brochures and flyers; press releases and newspaper articles; videocassettes; and photographs and slides.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
The records were donated to the Simon Fraser University Archives by the Technical University of British Columbia on July 17, 2002.
Arrangement
The original order of the records comprising the fonds was not discernible. In order to facilitate access to the material, the archivist created series based on the functions and activities of the Society. The archivist also arranged loose material into folders where necessary.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Some files may contain personal or confidential information. Access to these files may be restricted as stipulated by Archives policy or the donor. Files marked 'pending review' must be reviewed by an archivist prior to release, and as a result of the review access restrictions may apply. Please see the file lists and consult the archivist for more details.
Access to videocassettes is restricted due to fragility of the medium. Access is provided via digital access copies. Consult the reference archivist for more details about accessing moving images in this fonds.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
File and item lists are available. See appendices to this finding aid.
Generated finding aid
Associated materials
For other material relating to the Fraser Valley University Society, see the finding aid to the Technical University of British Columbia fonds.
Accruals
All accessions have been processed as of June 2004. No further accruals are expected.
General note
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Photographs are located in series 1 and 5; see series descriptions for file numbers.
Moving images are stored on videocassettes which were digitized to create digital preservation copies. Moving images are located in series 5.
Alternative identifier(s)
Wikidata identifier
Wikidata URL
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Yong, Karen (Subject)
- Technical University of British Columbia (Subject)
- Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (Subject)
- Lowe, Robert (Subject)
Genre access points
Control area
Description record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Status
Revised
Level of detail
Full
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Finding aid prepared by Melanie Hardbattle (June 2004); updated by Richard Dancy (March 2006); item numbers re-assigned (October 2012); metadata documenting digitally preserved moving images added (August 2018).