This is the 11th year for the Annual Haig-Brown Festival which will be taking place on Sunday, Sept. 30, from noon to 4 p.m. in honour of World River’s Day.
The original festival was held in 2002. This year, Cynthia Bendickson, who once worked as a summer student at the Campbell River Museum, has taken over as organizer and is devoted to making this year’s festival a success.
“I really appreciate all the help I am getting from previous festival organizer Terry Hale”, Cynthia remarked. “He has gone above and beyond what he needs to do to make sure I have an easy time taking over the reins.
“It has been great having such a dedicated and organized group of people behind me, and I am very impressed by the wide range of community groups that get involved, and the diverse talent we have in Campbell River.”
The festival continues to explore the themes of fishing, literature and conservation, with the addition of outdoor recreation and safety, and displaying local talent.
Located on the banks of the Campbell River, adjacent to the Kingfisher Creek conservation area and surrounded by woods, the site’s location by the river is a focal point for the celebration. The Haig-Brown House on the property will be open and visitors can peruse the study with its treasure trove of older books.
The City of Campbell River will again present Stewardship Awards on centre stage to individuals, groups or businesses in recognition of their contribution in areas of conservation like habitat awareness, waste reduction, energy and water conservation, and air quality protection. Greenways Land trust will present the award for the winner of the Character Tree Contest.
A variety of music is on offer by talented First Nations performers, including Duane J. Hanson who plays with the Laichkwiltach rock group Bentwood Boyz. Alternative teen rock band Who is Barbosa will also be featured.
Admission is free, with fly tying demos, fly fishing lessons, children’s games and crafts, good food, readings from Haig-Brown writings, great displays, property tours and more that appeal to all ages.
Roderick Haig-Brown was a fly fisherman, lay judge, and author, who became famous through his writings, some of which are considered to be classics today. Haig-Brown was an avid conservationist, and spoke of preserving the natural environment long before environmentalism became a popular issue.
He is credited with creating a positive impact on the future of Campbell River through his foresight. His wife Ann, for whom the Ann Elmore House is named, is credited with raising social awareness, particularly with respect to issues relating to women and their children.
The Haig-Brown Heritage Site is located at 2250 Campbell River Road (on the Gold River Highway). For a complete list of this year’s participants, visit www.haig-brown.bc.ca. For further information call the Museum at 250 287-3103.