Roderick Langmere Haig-Brown

Roderick Langmere Haig-Brown (February 21, 1908 – October 9, 1976) was a Canadian writer and conservationist.

Early life

Haig-Brown was born in Lancing, Sussex, England on February 21, 1908.

In 1953 Haig-Brown received an honorary LLD (Doctor of Laws) from the University of British Columbia. His books for younger readers won several awards, including the Governor General's Award for "Saltwater Summer" (based on his experience salmon fishing off northern Vancouver Island). The Haig-Browns sold their family home and property on the banks of the Campbell River to the BC government to be preserved as greenbelt land in 1974, retaining a lifetime tenancy. The house is now home to a Canada Council sponsored Writer in Residence in the winter months and bed-and-breakfast in the summer. Haig-Brown's literary and judicial papers are in Special Collections in the library of the University of British Columbia and at the University of Victoria. Other family papers are in The Museum at Campbell River.

Legacy

A large-sized Residence Hall at the University of Victoria is named after Roderick Haig-Brown.

Tsútswecw Provincial Park near Kamloops was formerly named Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park in recognition of the major work Haig-Brown did to preserve the Fraser River and its tributaries as Pacific salmon habitat, especially spawning grounds. This included lobbying to stop major hydropower projects such as the Moran Dam. The Adams River which runs through the park is home to a major sockeye salmon run.

Mt. Haig-Brown in Strathcona Park on Vancouver Island is named for Roderick and his wife, Ann, in recognition of their efforts to preserve the Park, especially the battle in the 1950s to keep Buttle Lake from being flooded. The battle was lost but the process made many British Columbians aware of the need to be vigilant about their parks and the natural environment.

At the Haig-Brown House, a festival is held every year to commemorate his and his wife's work in conservation and broader community endeavours. During which the Haig-Brown Stewardship Awards are presented, meant to recognize environmental stewardship efforts in the region surrounding Campbell River.

In 2016, Haig-Brown was named a National Historic Person.

Books

Silver: The Life Story of an Atlantic Salmon (1931) New edition, Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1989 Pool and Rapid (1932) Ki-yu: A Story of Panthers (1934) The Western Angler (1939) Return to the River: A story of the Chinook Run (1941) Timber (1942) Starbuck Valley Winter (1943), illustrated by Charles De Feo A River Never Sleeps (1946), illustrated by Stephen Russ Saltwater Summer (1948) On the Highest Hill (1949) Measure of the Year (1950) Fisherman's Spring (1951) Fisherman's Winter (1954) Mounted Police Patrol (1954) Captain of the Discovery (1956) Fisherman's Summer (1959) The Farthest Shores (1960) The Living Land: An Account of the Natural Resources of British Columbia (1961) Fur and Gold (1962) The Whale People (1962), illus. Mary Weiler A Primer of Fly-Fishing (1964) Fisherman's Fall (1964) (with Ralph Wahl), Come Wade the River (1971) The Salmon (1974) Bright Waters, Bright Fish (1980) Alison's Fishing Birds (1980) Woods and River Tales (1980) The Master and His Fish (1981) Writings and Reflections (1982)