Haig-Brown Family History
Roderick Haig-Brown was an avid fly-fisher, a pioneering conservationist, an acclaimed
author and a magistrate in Campbell River BC. His writing – 25 books and well over 200 articles and speeches – has influenced fisheries biologists, ecologists and countless others interested in the evolving relationship between people and nature.
A godson of Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, he was born in England and came to North America in 1926 at the age of 19. He worked as a logger in Washington and Vancouver Island and eventually found his way to Campbell River.
He met his wife to be, Ann Elmore, in Seattle, Washington and they bought the Haig-Brown homestead, which they named 'Above Tide', in 1936 from the Pidcock family. Ann had received her education at the University of Washington and Berkley in California. (Valerie, Ann and family friend Van Egan at right)
At Above Tide, she typed her husband's manuscripts and managed the farm and household. Haig-Brown is quoted as saying that "I married an intellectual far better read and artistically far more sophisticated than myself". In later years, she worked as a librarian at the local high school in Campbell River. The Ann Elmore Transition House in Campbell River is named after her in commemoration of her concern for mothers and children.
The Haig-Browns had four children - Valerie, Mary, Alan and Celia, who grew to value the wilderness area they were surrounded by and pursued careers in education and writing. Roderick Haig-Brown passed away in 1976 and Ann in 1990. The 100 years since their birth years was celebrated in 2008.
Haig-Brown and dog at the river
