Local Celebrity: Roderick Haig-Brown

Haig-Brown House on the Campbell River

          Roderick Haig-Brown was a world-renowned writer and conservationist. Like Sybil Andrews, he was an English transplant; originally hailing from Lancing, Sussex in England. He moved from his home in Lancing to Washington state where he worked in a logging camp before crossing the border into British Columbia after his visa expired. He then remained in the province, working as a logger at Nimpkish Lake and as a commercial fisherman and angling guide.

          Haig-Brown was best known for his books focusing on nature and fly-fishing. Some of his notable works include A River Never Sleeps (1946), Saltwater Summer (1948), Measure of the Year (1950), and Fisherman's Fall (1964). All together, he had written over 25 books and over 200 articles.

           Today, Haig-Brown's legacy lives on. Lucky for us, his beautiful River-side home is now a summer B&B, and if you call ahead, you can have a tour of his study -- where he spent the majority of his time writing. In the winter, the house is a temporary accommodation for a "Writer in Residence", which is operated by the Museum at Campbell River.

Fun Facts: 

• The Cheese Corn Connection: Roderick Haig-Brown was the godson of Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts.
• Old School: Roderick's wife, Ann, worked at the Carihi School library.
• A Cow for Milking: Together, Roderick and Ann had a small farm, which included a cow, goats, and a large garden.
• SuperWife: Ann typed all of Roderick's manuscripts for him.
• The Apple Don't Fall Far: Roderick and Ann had four children together, Mary, Valerie, Celia, and Alan, who all went on to have careers in literature and education.
• Remember Me For Centuries: The Haig-Brown House is now a historic site and owned by the city of Campbell River, but managed by the local museum.
• School Spirit: The University of Victoria has a residence hall named after him. 
• Ain't No Mountain High Enough: Mt. Haig-Brown is located in Strathcona Park.