“A river is water in its loveliest form; rivers have life and sound and movement and infinity of variation, rivers are veins of the earth through which the lifeblood returns to the heart.”
– Roderick Haig-Brown
Nestled on the banks of the Campbell River, the Haig-Brown Heritage Property is a place where nature and history intertwine. Visitors to this site are welcomed by the ever-present sound of flowing water. It was this familiar sound that immediately resonated with Celia Haig-Brown when she returned to her childhood home this past November.
Celia reflected on this experience, “One of the things I realized when I moved away from this place is that I didn’t know the river made a sound. It was just part of how life was. And then when it was gone, there was an emptiness. So, the river flowing, and the sound of the river flowing is now back.”
Celia, the youngest daughter of Roderick and Ann Haig-Brown, will be living at the Haig-Brown House until early May. While at the site she will be undertaking a special project to honor and examine the legacy and lasting impact of her parents.
Roderick and Ann were exceptional individuals, and we are fortunate that they choose to make this community their home. Roderick, who has been designated as a person of National Historic Significance, was a prolific author, forward-thinking conservationist, fly fisher, and judge. Ann Elmore Haig-Brown worked tirelessly within this community on issues concerning, social justice, mental health, and education. She is perhaps best known, and fondly remembered, for her role as the librarian at Carihi Secondary School from 1960 until 1973.
Shortly after their marriage, Roderick and Ann made their home on the banks of the Campbell River, eventually purchasing a 19-acre property in 1936, which is now known as the Haig-Brown Heritage Property. From this locale they raised four children Valerie, Mary, Alan, and Celia and shared their values and commitment to environmental stewardship and community service.
Although it has been many years since they passed (Roderick died in 1976 and Ann in 1990), the impact of these two exceptional individuals continues to flow through family and community.
In 2016, Haig-Brown memorial lecturer Andrew Nikiforuk delivered a lecture entitled, “Why Haig-Brown Matters more than Ever.” As part of that lecture Nikiforuk commented,
“By any measure Haig-Brown was a unique and prophetic voice in a nation that has never been terribly impressed with the idea of conservation…He listened to what the rivers and forests had to say and was never afraid to write about the wonder of existence. He believed in truth and accuracy and recognized there were limits to human adventure.”
Ann was a major force for social justice issues in Campbell River, notably around challenges facing women. As a testament to the community work that she did, the Ann Elmore Transition House in Campbell River is named in her honour.
Today the tangible recognition of the contribution of these two individuals is the ongoing efforts to preserve and maintain their home as a heritage site. Concerned with the encroaching developments along the banks of the river in 1975 the Haig-Browns transferred the property to a provincial greenbelt protection program. Later, upon request of the City of Campbell River, ownership of the property was transferred to the citizens of Campbell River. Today the heritage property is managed by the Museum at Campbell River as a bed and breakfast and as a home to a Writer-in-Residence program.
Perhaps less tangible, though, is how the lessons and teachings shared by Roderick and Ann continue to ripple through family and relations. The Haig-Brown Legacy Project, which Celia is currently undertaking, is an opportunity for family, relation and community to come together and consider the on-going impact of two of Campbell River’s formative residents.
With Celia’s “Return to the River” (also the title of one her father’s books), it has given her pause to not only consider her relationship with the river but to focus on the lessons she learned from her parents. In particular, she notes, “My parents raised me with incredible respect for indigenous people.”
An upcoming series of community sessions and one workshop will be an opportunity for the community to join in the dialogue as Celia and her siblings share how their work has and continues to be impacted by the lessons of their parents. Circuitously these sessions also give voice to Roderick and Ann so they can continue to be a part of a modern dialogue concerning the environment, inclusivity, diversity, social justice, literacy and community. For more information about the community sessions please visit www.crmuseum.ca.
