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Renfrewshire Community Plan 2008 - 2017 Renfrewshire's emigrants: James Shand Harvey
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James Shand Harvey was the son of a wealthy family who owned the Castle Semple estate in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire. He left behind his life of privilege and wealth for a much simpler life in a log cabin in the Canadian wilderness.
Shand Harvey emigrated to Canada in 1905 where he worked as a packer during the building of the trans-continental railway, and he also tried his hand at homesteading. By 1906, he was employed as a surveyor on the Old Victoria Trail, just as the Canadian west was being opened up. Shand Harvey became a trapper and a forest ranger, and was a scout for the famous Alpine Club Smithsonian Expedition in 1911.
Shand Harvey emigrated to Canada in 1905 where he worked as a packer during the building of the trans-continental railway, and he also tried his hand at homesteading. By 1906, he was employed as a surveyor on the Old Victoria Trail, just as the Canadian west was being opened up. Shand Harvey became a trapper and a forest ranger, and was a scout for the famous Alpine Club Smithsonian Expedition in 1911.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, the federal government of Canada was looking at ways to preserve the 'wild areas'. They created the Athabasca Forest reserve in Alberta in 1910, and in 1912 Shand Harvey was hired as the first District Ranger for the 4,000 square mile park.
The park had no cabins and no recognised trails, and was home to the local Cree Indians. A ranger station was established at Entrance, a central gathering point for trappers and guides, and Shand Harvey built his cabin there. (The community of Entrance is now known as Old Entrance).
The park had no cabins and no recognised trails, and was home to the local Cree Indians. A ranger station was established at Entrance, a central gathering point for trappers and guides, and Shand Harvey built his cabin there. (The community of Entrance is now known as Old Entrance).
Shand Harvey empathised with the Cree. He understood their need to hunt game, and so refused to act as a game warden for the authorities. He also refused to trade liquor to the Indians, and he learned the Cree language from a local woman. In 1916, he vociferously defended the rights of the Indians not to be evicted from their lands.
Shand Harvey was solely responsible for the park until 1940, when an assistant ranger was appointed. By then there were cabins, trails and bridges and 65 miles of telephone line! He continued to live in his simple cabin until his death in 1968.
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