Mary Ruth spent the first quarter of her life, assuming she lives to be 110, in the heart of southern Ontario’s agricultural mecca of Essex and Kent counties. Known as one of the most competitive media markets in all of North America—the seed of writing and journalism had taken root. After a year exploring Europe, back on Canadian soil she landed in Victoria, BC — a few days later informing her family she would be living in British Columbia for the rest of her life. 29 years and counting — the first 18 in Victoria, the next 8 in the Comox Valley, the last 3 in Campbell River and now Sayward — Mary Ruth embraces every opportunity to share stories of adventure, discovery and experience.

A Place of Deep Quiet
Here follows the abridged story of the evolution of the Sayward Valley from as near the beginning as we dare imagine. Sometime between 145.5 and 65.5 million years ago—in the middle of the Cretaceous period—the Insular Mountains, a range that covers 133,879 km2 along the coast of British Columbia (including Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island), […]
Words by Mary Ruth HarrisPhoto by Joyce E. Ellis