Bill Barlee

He had a varied career as a high school teacher, writer, publisher, and placer miner. He left teaching to write, publish and become a small businessman. His history magazine "Canada West" had faithful subscribers and his books included two best-sellers: "Gold Creeks and Ghost Towns" and the "Guide to Goldpanning". Over his life, he and his wife carefully amassed an impressive collection of Old West artifacts. Parts of the Barlee collection were placed on display in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa as well as museums in British Columbia.

In 1988 Barlee was elected as an NDP MLA. When the NDP became government, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. During his time as Agriculture Minister, Barlee conceived of, and implemented the successful "Buy BC" program, to support BC farmers. The Buy BC logo can now be found on virtually all food products made or grown in B.C. He also served as Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Culture. Vancouver Sun columnist Denny Boyd credited Barlee as being one of the best Tourism Ministers B.C. has ever had.

Barlee received a number of honours during his career including the "Golden Door" award from the BC and Yukon Hotel Association; the "Stellar Award" by the BC Restaurants and Food Services Association; and the "Visionary Award" from the BC Council of Tourism Associations.

Barlee was also awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.

{{CANelec/top|CA|2000|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Alliance|Jim Gouk|19,386|46.69|-0.09|$42,724}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Bill Barlee|11,357|27.35|+9.88|$32,709}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Don Scarlett|4,091|9.85|-12.04|$7,473}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Andrew Shadrack|2,689|6.47|+0.42|$14,652}}

{{CANelec|CA|PC|Michele Elise Duncan|2,147|5.17|-0.39|$3,532}}

{{CANelec|CA|Marijuana|Dan Loehndorf|889|2.14|–|$978}}

{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Action|Bev Collins|762|1.84|+0.91|$3,220}}

{{CANelec|CA|Natural Law|Annie Holtby|191|0.46|±0|$886}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|41,512|100.0  }}

{{CANelec/total|Total rejected ballots|238|0.57}}

{{CANelec/total|Turnout|41,750|64.86}}

{{CANelec/hold|CA|Canadian Alliance|-4.98}}

{{CANelec/note|Change for the Canadian Alliance is based on the Reform Party.}}

{{end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1988 By-Election: Boundary-Similkameen{{cite web|title=1987-2001 Election History|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/1987-2001-ElectionHistory.pdf|website=electionsbc.ca|accessdate=Feb 21, 2015}}}}

|-

{{CANelec |BC |NDP | Bill Barlee | 15,778 |52.82}}

|-

{{CANelec |BC |Social Credit| Russ Fox | 10,585 | 35.44 }}

|-

{{CANelec |BC |Liberal|Judi Tyabji| 3,144 | 10.53}}

|-

{{CANelec |BC |Green|Rus Domer| 361 | 1.21 }}

|- style="background:white;"

! style="text-align:right;" colspan="3"|Total Valid Votes

!align="right"| 29,868

!align="right"|100.00

|- style="background:white;"

! style="text-align:right;" colspan="3"|Total rejected ballots

!align="right"| 87

!align="right"|

|}

• Barlee N.L. 1976 Historic Treasures and Lost Mines of British Columbia. Canada West Publications.
• Barlee, N.L. The Pictograph Country: Similkameen. S.l., 1966. Re-released as Similkameen: The Pictograph Country, self-published chapbook, 1978. Re-released as Similkameen: The Pictograph Country (Surrey: Hancock, 1989).
• Barlee, N.L. The Prospectors' and Collectors' Guide: Covering the Okanagan, Shuswap, Similkameen Boundary, South Thompson Areas. (n.d.)
• Barlee, N.L. South Okanagan: The Sagebrush Country (Canada West, n.d.).
• Barlee, N.L. Gold Creeks and Ghost Towns: East Kootenay, Boundary, West Kootenay, Okanagan and Similkameen (Canada West Magazine, 1970?; Canada West Publications, 1980; Hancock House, 1984).
• Barlee, N.L. [https://www.hancockhouse.com/products/gold-creeks-of-bc The Guide to Gold Panning in British Columbia Gold Regions, Methods of Mining, etc] (Summerland: N.L. Barlee, 1972, 1974; Summerland: Canada West, 1977; Victoria: Canada West Publications 1979, 1980; Blaine, WA: Big Country, 1984; Hancock House, 1993).
• Barlee, N.L. (editor). The Best of Canada West (Langley: Stagecoach Publishing, 1978).
• Barlee, N.L. West Kootenay: Ghost Town Country (Canada West Publications, 1984).
• Barlee, N.L. [https://www.hancockhouse.com/products/gold-creeks-ghost-towns-of-northeast-washington Gold Creeks and Ghost Towns of Northeastern Washington] (Barlee, 1988; Hancock House, 1999).
• Barlee, N.L. Lost Mines and Historic Treasures (Hancock House, 1993).

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Category:1932 births

Category:2012 deaths

Category:British Columbia New Democratic Party MLAs

Category:20th-century Canadian historians

Category:Canadian male non-fiction writers

Category:Canadian schoolteachers

Category:Canadian television personalities

Category:Candidates in the 2000 Canadian federal election

Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia

Category:People from the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary

Category:Writers from British Columbia

Category:Liberal Party of Canada candidates for the Canadian House of Commons

Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Category:British Columbia candidates for Member of Parliament