PHOTOS BY BOOMER JERRITT
linocut prints, embracing speed, dynamism, and energy, garner great attention in the global auction market. The Cottage is also the home of the Campbell River Arts Council. Roderick Haig-Brown (1908-1976) was a writer and an early voice for environmental stewardship. An expert fly-fisher, his books offer an elegant musing on the great natural beauty of this region, alongside the perils of development. His wife, Ann Elmore (1908-1990), was a strong early voice for women and social justice issues. They were indeed a couple ahead of their time. The house is managed by the Museum, and is used as a bed and breakfast during the summer months while serving as a host location for an annual Writer-in-Residence Program. Speaking of literature, the annual Words on the Water Festival that takes place in March is a national gem that brings writers from across the country to Campbell River. As a compliment to the world-class natural geography of the Campbell River region, the arts are a tremendous social resource. Whether contributing to the experience of walking around town, or woven into the fabric of everyday life for youth, families and seniors, the arts strike to the core of what we mean when we talk about the quality of life. While servicing the needs of the community, art and culture showcases the dynamism of this amazing place. To understand the nature of a community it is necessary to look around and see what the arts are doing. The artists of Campbell River are located at the crossroads of our social, cultural, environmental, and economic sectors contributing to a lifestyle and energy of a place unlike any community on Vancouver Island. WORDS BY KEN BLACKBURN