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A government agent was first stationed at Revelstoke by 1890. The Revelstoke Agency was part of the West Kootenay district from 1900 to approximately 1920. There was a government agent in Revelstoke until at least 2004.

The government agency system of British Columbia has its origins in the two colonial offices of Gold Commissioners and Stipendiary Magistrates. Over time, the title "Gold Commissioner" became restricted to those officials performing the administrative and judicial duties laid out in mining legislation (Gold Commissioners held their judicial responsibilities until they were repealed by the Mineral Act of 1897). The more general title "Government Agent" was increasingly used for those officials with broader responsibilities and was consistently used to describe these multifunctional roles by the 1880s.

The several functions of a Government Agent are legally separate powers and appointments, which were often, but not always, held concurrently by the same individual. After confederation, Government Agents continued to fulfill a multitude of roles. By the turn of the century, a single agent’s duties could include:

Government Agent, Supreme Court Registrar, County Court Registrar, Sheriff, Gold Commissioner, Mining Recorder, Water recorder, Welfare Officer, Vital Statistics Recorder, Meteorological Recorder, Provincial Registrar of Voters, Federal Registrar of Voters, Game Warden, Land Commissioner, Assessor, Collector of Revenue Taxes, Financial Officer, Marriage Commissioner, Local Board of Health Sanitary Inspector, Cattle Brand Recorder, Maintainer of Government Buildings, Coroner, Gaoler, Constable, and Court clerk.

New functions were added as government services were created. For example, during prohibition, agents issued permits to purchase liquor. They also became involved with the administration of the Motor Vehicle Act by registering vehicles and licensing drivers. By 1900 policing functions were formally removed from Government Agents and transferred to police forces, though they continued to work closely with some police constables, particularly in rural areas, until the BC Police force was replaced by the RCMP in 1950.

Into the twentieth century, the staff in government agencies was growing substantially from one person who fulfilled all government functions, to offices with multiple staff supervised by the Agent.

The location of agencies and the headquarters of each agency where an Agent was located changed over time, based on the movement of population. There were often sub-offices or other outposts throughout a district with other government officials, such as Mining Recorders, who reported to the Government Agent at the district's headquarters.

Agents reported directly to the Provincial Secretary in Victoria until 1917 when they were became part of the Department of Finance, as one of their primary roles was tax collection. Starting in 1920 and increasingly after 1945, the role of the Government Agent was reduced and eroded by the growth of other more specialized and centralized branches of government. For example, Agents provided social services and acted as informal Social Workers by dispensing income assistance and child welfare responsibilities until they were replaced by trained Social Workers in the 1930s.

Into the 1950s the Government Agent in some small communities continued to act as Magistrate, Gold Commissioner, Mining Recorder, Maintainer of voters lists, Recorder of vital statistics and many other duties. However, these roles were increasingly done by representatives of different government branches. The role of Government Agent continues to exist in 2022 as an administrator with limited authority in several communities across the province.

A government agent was first officially stationed at Smithers in 1920. As of 2022, there is still a government agent based in Smithers.

The government agency system of British Columbia has its origins in the two colonial offices of Gold Commissioners and Stipendiary Magistrates. Over time, the title "Gold Commissioner" became restricted to those officials performing the administrative and judicial duties laid out in mining legislation (Gold Commissioners held their judicial responsibilities until they were repealed by the Mineral Act of 1897). The more general title "Government Agent" was increasingly used for those officials with broader responsibilities and was consistently used to describe these multifunctional roles by the 1880s.

The several functions of a Government Agent are legally separate powers and appointments, which were often, but not always, held concurrently by the same individual. After confederation, Government Agents continued to fulfill a multitude of roles. By the turn of the century, a single agent’s duties could include:

Government Agent, Supreme Court Registrar, County Court Registrar, Sheriff, Gold Commissioner, Mining Recorder, Water recorder, Welfare Officer, Vital Statistics Recorder, Meteorological Recorder, Provincial Registrar of Voters, Federal Registrar of Voters, Game Warden, Land Commissioner, Assessor, Collector of Revenue Taxes, Financial Officer, Marriage Commissioner, Local Board of Health Sanitary Inspector, Cattle Brand Recorder, Maintainer of Government Buildings, Coroner, Gaoler, Constable, and Court clerk.

New functions were added as government services were created. For example, during prohibition, agents issued permits to purchase liquor. They also became involved with the administration of the Motor Vehicle Act by registering vehicles and licensing drivers. By 1900 policing functions were formally removed from Government Agents and transferred to police forces, though they continued to work closely with some police constables, particularly in rural areas, until the BC Police force was replaced by the RCMP in 1950.

Into the twentieth century, the staff in government agencies was growing substantially from one person who fulfilled all government functions, to offices with multiple staff supervised by the Agent.

The location of agencies and the headquarters of each agency where an Agent was located changed over time, based on the movement of population. There were often sub-offices or other outposts throughout a district with other government officials, such as Mining Recorders, who reported to the Government Agent at the district's headquarters.

Agents reported directly to the Provincial Secretary in Victoria until 1917 when they were became part of the Department of Finance, as one of their primary roles was tax collection. Starting in 1920 and increasingly after 1945, the role of the Government Agent was reduced and eroded by the growth of other more specialized and centralized branches of government. For example, Agents provided social services and acted as informal Social Workers by dispensing income assistance and child welfare responsibilities until they were replaced by trained Social Workers in the 1930s.

Into the 1950s the Government Agent in some small communities continued to act as Magistrate, Gold Commissioner, Mining Recorder, Maintainer of voters lists, Recorder of vital statistics and many other duties. However, these roles were increasingly done by representatives of different government branches. The role of Government Agent continues to exist in 2022 as an administrator with limited authority in several communities across the province.

A government office was established in Vernon in 1894. A government agent has been stationed in Vernon by 1900, and one has remained there until at least 2022.

The government agency system of British Columbia has its origins in the two colonial offices of Gold Commissioners and Stipendiary Magistrates. Over time, the title "Gold Commissioner" became restricted to those officials performing the administrative and judicial duties laid out in mining legislation (Gold Commissioners held their judicial responsibilities until they were repealed by the Mineral Act of 1897). The more general title "Government Agent" was increasingly used for those officials with broader responsibilities and was consistently used to describe these multifunctional roles by the 1880s.

The several functions of a Government Agent are legally separate powers and appointments, which were often, but not always, held concurrently by the same individual. After confederation, Government Agents continued to fulfill a multitude of roles. By the turn of the century, a single agent’s duties could include:

Government Agent, Supreme Court Registrar, County Court Registrar, Sheriff, Gold Commissioner, Mining Recorder, Water recorder, Welfare Officer, Vital Statistics Recorder, Meteorological Recorder, Provincial Registrar of Voters, Federal Registrar of Voters, Game Warden, Land Commissioner, Assessor, Collector of Revenue Taxes, Financial Officer, Marriage Commissioner, Local Board of Health Sanitary Inspector, Cattle Brand Recorder, Maintainer of Government Buildings, Coroner, Gaoler, Constable, and Court clerk.

New functions were added as government services were created. For example, during prohibition, agents issued permits to purchase liquor. They also became involved with the administration of the Motor Vehicle Act by registering vehicles and licensing drivers. By 1900 policing functions were formally removed from Government Agents and transferred to police forces, though they continued to work closely with some police constables, particularly in rural areas, until the BC Police force was replaced by the RCMP in 1950.

Into the twentieth century, the staff in government agencies was growing substantially from one person who fulfilled all government functions, to offices with multiple staff supervised by the Agent.

The location of agencies and the headquarters of each agency where an Agent was located changed over time, based on the movement of population. There were often sub-offices or other outposts throughout a district with other government officials, such as Mining Recorders, who reported to the Government Agent at the district's headquarters.

Agents reported directly to the Provincial Secretary in Victoria until 1917 when they were became part of the Department of Finance, as one of their primary roles was tax collection. Starting in 1920 and increasingly after 1945, the role of the Government Agent was reduced and eroded by the growth of other more specialized and centralized branches of government. For example, Agents provided social services and acted as informal Social Workers by dispensing income assistance and child welfare responsibilities until they were replaced by trained Social Workers in the 1930s.

The first government representative stationed at Yale was a Stipendiary Magistrate in 1858. In 1866 the Yale agency was merged to form the Hope-Yale-Lytton agency which existed until around the 1870s. A Government Agent was assigned specifically to Yale from 1876 into the 1880s. After that time, various other government officials, such as mining recorders, were based in the Yale District until the 1920s.

The government agency system of British Columbia has its origins in the two colonial offices of Gold Commissioners and Stipendiary Magistrates. The position of Gold Commissioner was created by a Proclamation of Governor Douglas, dated September 7, 1859. These commissioners were responsible for issuing free miners certificates, recording claims, managing miner’s water rights and settling disputes.

Stipendiary Magistrates, often referred to simply as Magistrates, were laymen without legal training who acted as judges in civil, small debt, and some criminal cases. Magistrates were often the only government officials in a region and fulfilled all government functions and services for their communities. However, before confederation their primary function was to maintain law and order. They were initially responsible for policing in their districts, and may have acted as Police Constables. In more populated regions they may have supervised multiple other Police Constables, in addition to other administrative staff such as Mining Recorders and Toll Collectors located throughout the district.

Almost all Gold Commissioners, or Assistant Gold Commissioners, also held the position of Stipendiary Magistrate. Initially, these positions could be held alongside a variety of others. It was common for one individual to also be appointed, or otherwise referred to as: Mining Recorder, Government Agent, Justice of the Peace, Small Debts Court judge, County Court judge (until 1881 when they were replaced with trained Supreme Court judges), and as a representative in the Legislative Council of the colony.

Other Magistrate duties varied widely, including: managing road or other infrastructure projects, recording census data and vital statistics, issuing marriage licenses, tax and revenue collection, and school and hospital inspections. They also acted as Assistant Commissioners of Lands and Works in all local aspects of land administration, including: supervising surveys, the sale of crown land, pre-emptions, and leases of timber or grazing land.

Before confederation, the boundaries of administrative districts were only roughly delineated. This meant magistrates could be unclear on the limits of their own jurisdictions, resulting in considerable overlap. Magistrates often travelled extensively to maintain order throughout their districts and may not have had a clear base or headquarters they consistently operated out of. Archival records reflect this inconsistency, and the multitude of different job titles that could be held by one individual in multiple places at one time.

Over time, the title "Gold Commissioner" became restricted to those officials performing the administrative and judicial duties laid out in mining legislation (Gold Commissioners held their judicial responsibilities until they were repealed by the Mineral Act of 1897). The more general title "Government Agent" was increasingly used for those officials with broader responsibilities and was consistently used to describe these multifunctional roles by the 1880s.

The several functions of a Government Agent are legally separate powers and appointments, which were often, but not always, held concurrently by the same individual. Over the next few decades Government Agents continued to fulfill a multitude of roles. By the turn of the century, a single agent’s duties could include:

Government Agent, Supreme Court Registrar, County Court Registrar, Sheriff, Gold Commissioner, Mining Recorder, Water recorder, Welfare Officer, Vital Statistics Recorder, Meteorological Recorder, Provincial Registrar of Voters, Federal Registrar of Voters, Game Warden, Land Commissioner, Assessor, Collector of Revenue Taxes, Financial Officer, Marriage Commissioner, Local Board of Health Sanitary Inspector, Cattle Brand Recorder, Maintainer of Government Buildings, Coroner, Gaoler, Constable, and Court clerk.

New functions were added as government services were created. For example, during prohibition, agents issued permits to purchase liquor. They also became involved with the administration of the Motor Vehicle Act by registering vehicles and licensing drivers. By 1900 policing functions were formally removed from Government Agents and transferred to police forces, though they continued to work closely with some police constables, particularly in rural areas, until the BC Police force was replaced by the RCMP in 1950.

Into the twentieth century, the staff in government agencies was growing substantially from one person who fulfilled all government functions, to offices with multiple staff supervised by the Agent.

The location of agencies and the headquarters of each agency where an Agent was located changed over time, based on the movement of population. There were often sub-offices or other outposts throughout a district with other government officials, such as Mining Recorders, who reported to the Government Agent at the district's headquarters.

Agents reported directly to the Provincial Secretary in Victoria until 1917 when they were became part of the Department of Finance, as one of their primary roles was tax collection. Starting in 1920 and increasingly after 1945, the role of the Government Agent was reduced and eroded by the growth of other more specialized and centralized branches of government. For example, Agents provided social services and acted as informal Social Workers by dispensing income assistance and child welfare responsibilities until they were replaced by trained Social Workers in the 1930s.

Into the 1950s the Government Agent in some small communities continued to act as Magistrate, Gold Commissioner, Mining Recorder, Maintainer of voters lists, Recorder of vital statistics and many other duties. However, these roles were increasingly done by representatives of different government branches. The role of Government Agent continues to exist in 2022 as an administrator with limited authority in several communities across the province.

Established June 29, 1976 under Dept. of Finance, subsequently Ministry of Finance. Name changed by Dec. 1984 from Government Employee Relations Bureau, Ministry of Provincial Secretary and Government Services to Government Personnel Services [Division].

The first organization of B.C. government workers was the Provincial Civil Service Association of B.C., formed in 1919. The B.C. Government Employees' Association (BCGEA) was founded in 1942; it changed its name to the B.C. Government Employees' Union in 1969. The BCGEU gained full bargaining rights under the BC Labour Code in 1974. The BCGEU changed its name again in 1993 to reflect its expanding non-government membership base, to the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union.

The first organization of B.C. government workers was the Provincial Civil Service Association of BC, formed in 1919. The B.C. Government Employees' Association (BCGEA) was founded in 1942; it changed its name to the B.C. Government Employees' Union in 1969. The BCGEU gained full bargaining rights under the BC Labour Code in 1974. The BCGEU changed its name again in 1993 to reflect its expanding non-government membership base, to the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union.

In 1865, the residence known as Cary Castle (built 1859) was purchased to serve as the official residence of the Governor of Vancouver Island. In 1871, following Confederation, Cary Castle became Government House and served as the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of the province of British Columbia.
In 1899, Cary Castle was destroyed in a fire. Francis Rattenbury and Samuel Maclure were hired to design a new house to be built on the same site, which opened in 1903. In 1957, it was likewise destroyed in a fire. Construction of a new Government House began shortly thereafter and closely followed the Rattenbury-Maclure design. The building opened in 1959.

Government House is the office and official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, and the ceremonial home of all British Columbians. Government House records consist of the administrative and operational records of the Government House. These operations consist of administration, event coordination, grounds maintenance, security, and other activities. The records of Government House do not include the records of the Office of the Lieutenant-Governor, which are captured under schedule 112912.

Government Information Services (GIS) was created in 1983 as a system of modified centralization for the management and implementation of its information services. A central, communications planning-and-approval system was progressively developed under a Communications Counsel. The system drew its authority to review and approve advertising, publications and news releases from Cabinet policy and Treasury Board directives. The budgets of 19 ministries for advertising and publications were consolidated in one vote with the Communications Counsel as signing and contracting authority. The branch reported to the Ministry of Provincial Secretary and Government Services The function of GIS was to plan, coordinate and implement government communication policy and programs. It also provided general advertising and information services for all ministries, and operated government production centres. GIS prepared and supervised press releases, speeches and other editorial documents required by government and the ministries. It also produced photographs, graphic designs, displays, audio-visuals and video productions. On behalf of the ministries, GIS supervised a wide range of information projects on such subjects as law reform, pest control, forest fire prevention, waste management, pension information and consumer information. During 1986/87 the branch was downsized by 50 percent and in August of 1987 it was reassigned to the Office of the Premier. Responsibility for ministry programs was assumed by each ministry through their public information officers.

The British Columbia Retired Civil Servants Association was established in 1947 and changed its name in 1956 to the British Columbia Government Retired Employees Association.

Name changed Dec. 19, 1938, from Bureau of Industrial and Tourist Development. Name changed March 23, 1967 to Dept. of Travel Industry.

Established 1939; transferred April 1957 to Dept. of Recreation and Conservation.

Appointed by O.I.C. pursuant to Civil Service Act, RSBC, 1909, C. 39. s. 25 & 26 to re-grade civil servants “according to each member’s ability and efficiency.” Completed work in 1909.

The Queen Charlotte Islands Forest District was established in 1988 as part of the Vancouver Forest Region. In 2008 the Queen Charlotte Forest District was renamed the Haida Gwaii Forest District. In 2016 it was renamed the Haida Gwaii Natural Resource District. As if 2022 it was currently part of the West Coast Natural Resource Region.

The British Columbia Harbours Board was established by statute in 1967.

The Health Authorities division was established in 2006 as part of the Ministry of Health. It succeeded the Performance Management and Improvement division (2003-2006), which had included a smaller Health Authority branch. The Health Authorities division was designed to ensure that sustainable and affordable patient-centered care was delivered to patients through BC’s six health authorities. The Division defined standards of performance and developed frameworks to manage provincial health initiatives.

In 2008, the Division fell under the newly-renamed Ministry of Health Services and by 2010 it was divided into seven subordinate branches. These branches provided strategic direction and managed the performance of the province’s six health authorities, managed patient care quality, managed patient safety, guided health care transformation funding, resolved patient concerns and systemic issues on behalf of the Minister of Health, and developed legislative and policy options for divisional programs. The Division was also responsible for liaising with other branches within the Ministry of Health, including its work on the surgical wait list website with the Health Information and Modernization branch.

The Division styled itself as the steward of the province’s health services, and helped to manage the flow of information and decisions between the Ministry and the six health authorities. By 2010, the Division had approximately 110 staff.

In 2013, the Division was succeeded by the Health Services division.

Established October 28, 1977. Replaced the Archaeological Sites Advisory Board and the Historic Sites Advisory Board.

The Heritage Conservation Branch, now called the Heritage Branch, is responsible for the planning, development and management of heritage resources in British Columbia. Heritage resources include archaeological, historic, architectural and palaeontological sites.

Prior to 1977 responsibilities for heritage resources were divided between the Ministry of Provincial Secretary and the Ministry of Recreation and Conservation. The Ministry of Provincial Secretary administered the Archaeological and Historical Sites Protection Act and provided support services for the Archaeological Sites Advisory Board (ASAB). The Ministry of Recreation and Conservation, through its Historic Parks and Sites Division, Parks Branch, administered the planning and development of historic sites.

Established in 1977, the branch was initially under the Ministry of Recreation and Conservation, and then transferred in December 1978 to the newly reorganized Ministry of the Provincial Secretary and Government Services. Prior to June 1983, the branch also provided support services to the Provincial Heritage Advisory Board.

The Heritage Conservation Branch has fallen under government ministries, as follows:
Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Culture, 1988-07-06 to 1991-11-04;
Ministry of Tourism, 1991-11-05 to 1993-09-14;
Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture, 1993-09-15 to 2001-06-04;
Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services, 2001-06-05 to 2005-06-15;
Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, 2005-06-16 to 2008-06-22;
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, 2008-06-23 to 2010-10-24;
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, 2010-10-25 to 2017-07-17;
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, 2017-07-18 to present (2021).

The Heritage Conservation Branch was renamed “Heritage Branch” effective 1995-08-01 and continues to operate under that name.

The British Columbia Heritage Trust was established as a crown corporation in 1977, and received its mandate under Part IV of the Heritage Conservation Act (SBC 1977, c. 37).

The function of the Trust was to support, encourage and facilitate the conservation, maintenance and restoration of heritage property in the province, operating in co-ordination and co-operation with the Heritage Conservation Branch.

Appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the board of directors of the Trust met six times per year as well as holding committee meetings. With the permission of the minister, the Trust was empowered to acquire and dispose of property, conduct heritage-related exhibits and activities, receive donations, provide loans and grants, and assist in or undertake research, study, or publication, and provide services such as advice to members of the public.

Between 1978 and 2003 the Trust provided financial support to approximately 2,300 heritage initiatives across British Columbia, with a total investment of approximately $30 million.

As part of the Core Services Review, the British Columbia government terminated the operations of the British Columbia Heritage Trust on March 31, 2003.