The Metro Vancouver library serves Metro Vancouver staff, consultants, member jurisdiction staff, and the public. Named after Harry Lash, the library began in 1970, and was formally named after him in 1996, following his death the previous year.
Members of the public are welcome to visit the library, and may request electronic copies of Metro Vancouver reports, where available.
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History sources
| Vancouver archives | Vancouver archives | <div class="ExternalClass9FCC879C9E534B31B4255ECA7FE6BA2C">
<ul><li>Sewerage & Drainage Board 1911-1951</li><li>Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD) 1924-1965</li><li>Historical photos (select “Image” from Media Type filter)</li></ul><p>
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<a href="http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/" target="_blank" title="Search Vanouver Archives">Vancouver archives</a><br></p>
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| UBC archives | UBC archives | <div class="ExternalClass251A5367FB914F09B8DA6A21FAD34A99"><ul>
<li> GVRD Planning Department and Lower Mainland Regional Planning Board files 1947-1982 </li><li><a class="external" href="http://rbscarchives.library.ubc.ca/index.php/greater-vancouver-regional-district-planning-department-fonds" target="_blank">Finding Aid</a> is available</li></ul><p>
<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i><a href="http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives" target="_blank" title="Search UBC Archives">UBC archives</a><br></p></div> |
| Historical regional planning reports and maps | Historical regional planning reports and maps | <div class="ExternalClassEED7E298E5664DB89563BEA16A795F5B"><p>
<strong>1952</strong></p><p>
<i class="fa-light fa-file"></i><a href="/about-us/Documents/the-lower-mainland-looks-ahead-1952.pdf">The Lower Mainland Looks Ahead (Lower Mainland Regional Planning Board)</a></p><p>
<strong>1966</strong></p><p>
<i class="fa-light fa-file"></i><a href="/about-us/Documents/official-regional-plan-for-the-lower-mainland-planning-area-1966.pdf">Official Regional Plan of the Lower Mainland Regional Planning Board, the Municipalities of the Region, and the Province of British Columbia </a></p><p>
<strong>1975</strong></p><p>
<i class="fa-light fa-file"></i><a href="/about-us/Documents/livable-region-1976-1986-proposals-to-manage-the-growth-of-greater-vancouver.pdf">The Livable Region 1976/1986: Proposals to Manage the Growth of Greater Vancouver [Harry Lash's master plan]</a> </p><p>
<strong>1980</strong></p><p>
<i class="fa-light fa-file"></i><a href="/about-us/Documents/plan-for-the-lower-mainland-of-british-columbia-1980.pdf">Plan for the Lower Mainland of British Columbia </a></p><p>
<strong>1990</strong></p><p>
<i class="fa-light fa-file"></i><a href="/about-us/Documents/creating-our-future-steps-to-more-livable-region-1990.pdf">Creating our Future: Steps to a More Livable Region</a></p><p>
<strong>1996 rev. 1999</strong></p><p>
<i class="fa-light fa-file"></i><a href="/about-us/Documents/livable-region-strategic-plan.pdf" target="_blank">Livable Region Strategic Plan </a></p><p>
<strong>2011 rev. 2013</strong></p><p>
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<a href="/about-us/Documents/regional-growth-strategy-metro-2040.pdf" target="_blank">Regional Growth Strategy: Metro Vancouver 2040 </a></p><p>
<strong>Also of interest</strong></p><p>
<i class="fa-light fa-file"></i><a href="/about-us/Documents/creating-our-future-1994.pdf">Creating Our Future: The History, Status and Prospects of Regional Planning In Greater Vancouver (1994)</a><br><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i><a href="/about-us/Documents/bibliography-and-chronology-of-regional-planning-in-british-columbia.pdf">Bibliography and Chronology of Regional Planning in British Columbia (2000)</a><br><i class="fa-light fa-link"></i><a href="http://apps.metrovancouver.org/Genieplus/GeniePlus/Portal/Public.aspx?lang=en-CA&p_AAAAIR1=AAAAIZ&g_AAAAAO=GeniePlus+%7cCatalog+%7cSubject.Term+%3d+%27livable%27&d=d" target="_blank">Livable Region Reports 1973-2013</a><br>
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<a href="http://digitalcollections.library.ubc.ca/cdm/landingpage/collection/gvrdmaps" target="_blank">GVRD Planning Department Land Use Maps 1965, 1971, 1980, 1983</a></p>
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| Clipping files | Clipping files | <div class="ExternalClass8229161DDAF84F5CABD8EC61C94B37F5"><p>On-site use only; contact library staff for more information.<br></p></div> |
Who was Harry Lash?
Harry Lash was the first director of regional planning at the Greater Vancouver Regional District, now known as Metro Vancouver. During his tenure from 1969-1975, he led an extensive public consultation process which culminated in the report The Livable Region 1976/1986: Proposals to Manage the Growth of Greater Vancouver. Lash elaborated on his planning philosophy in his 1976 book Planning in a Human Way, which we have provided here with kind permission of Library and Archives Canada.