Programs at the Haig-Brown House
Saturday, February 6 - 'Awake To The World: A Workshop on the Prose Poem' with Harry Thurston (at the Haig-Brown House, 2250 Campbell River Road)
“Imagination is better than a sharp instrument. To pay attention this is our endless and proper work,” observed Mary Oliver in her poem, "Yes! No!". One way of sharpening our imagination is through the writing of prose poems, or object poems. Harry Thurston will conduct a workshop on the prose poem, using objects from the natural world as writing sources. It has been said that the object poem can make the reader or writer “awake to the world”–which is the goal of this workshop. It is appropriate for writers of any genre and at all stages of their careers, including beginners. The workshop will be conducted at Haig-Brown House on February 6th, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Call Museum at 250-287-3103 to register. Cost is $45 per person. Lunch will be provided. Limit of 10 participants.
WRITER IN RESIDENCE
During the winter months, a writer sponsored by the Canada Council Writer in Residence program lives at Haig-Brown House to write and act as an
advisory resource for the local community.
This year, the new Writer in Residence for the Haig-Brown House is Harry Thurston. Hailing from Nova Scotia, Thurston has been a writer of non-fiction and poetry since 1977, focusing on environmental topics. He has also been a publisher, editor and lecturer and regular contributor to Equinox magazine.
As a dedicated fly fisher, conservationist, and natural historian, Thurston has long been an admirer of Roderick Haig-Brown’s writing, and considers the opportunity to serve under the auspices of his name a deep privilege. “My most recent book, Silver Ghost, in collaboration with the photographer Thaddeus Holownia,” Thurston says, “is an homage to Atlantic Salmon rivers and an argument for their conservation, which finds a parallel with the work that Haig-Brown did for Pacific rivers and salmon.”
He has several projects he will be working on while in residence, including a prose project, Lost River, which will consist of a group of fictional stories dealing with fishing and our relationship to the natural world. He will also be available to consult with writers and will be giving public talks.
The Writer in Residence program is operated by the Museum at Campbell River, with funding assistance from the Haig-Brown Institute and the Rotary Club of Campbell River.
HAIG-BROWN FESTIVAL
Ninth Annual Haig-Brown Festival - Sunday, September 26, 2010
Held on 'World Rivers Day', the festival at the Haig-Brown Hertitage site at 2250 Campbell River Rd has something for everyone. Enjoy Haig-Brown readings, fly tying and fly casting events and crafts and games for children. Best of all, admission is free! Watch here for a list of events for this year's festival.
Comments about the Haig-Brown Festival 2008:
Campbell River Courier-Islander, October 1, 2008
'A job well done'
This year’s Haig-Brown festival was a great success. And mainly because the people attending it didn’t have to swim through a south easter to get there.
The organizers did a fabulous job of making things run smoothly. There was significant meaning this year, not that there hasn’t been in previous years. But this is the centenary of Roderick Haig-Brown’s birth and the year has been marked by various celebrations, marking his and his wife’s (Ann Elmore) significant contributions to our society.
The annual stewardship awards were once again handed out and in that we think it would have been one of the highlights the Haig-Browns would have appreciated most about the event.
Because without those stewards – selected from a cross section of our society – we would be in terrible difficulty as we move forward into some interesting times.
In the end, however, those many volunteers who made the weekend such a success deserve a standing ovation.
Individual Comments:
"It was a flawless day in all ways, from the weather, to the organization to the participations. Thanks to all involved, with a special thanks to Terry and Ken for the organization."
"The City of Campbell River Parks, Recreation and Culture staff that offered children's activities on the day reported that the event was wonderful!"
"It was a great day with a very positive, joyful spirit in the air - I felt really uplifted to have been a part of the day. Good work on behalf of all the organizers and all the participants. Thanks for inviting me."
"Thanks to all, it was indeed a great day. Of course the weather helped but I think the organizing was very good. As usual when you put the effort in before the event things usually go very well the day of."
"What a wonderful festival and what wonderful people. I feel inadequate in the face of your dedication and enthusiasm. This is what makes a community, and this is what makes an environment. May it last forever. Thank you for the honour of inviting me to walk among you. Now a great gap has opened up in me, as if I have left home...."
"It was the best of the Haig-Brown Festivals I have attended. Ken and Terry did a marvellous job. I'm only sorry that I didn't get a salmon burger before the vendor ran out!"
