Chris Harris

CHRIS HARRIS

Chris was born in Montreal and spent his childhood years in rural Quebec. He attended high school in New Brunswick and in 1969 graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a B.A. in ancient history. Unsatisfied with a banking career, Chris borrowed a backpack, and with a camera his father gave him, took off to hitchhike around the world. Two years later he returned with hundreds of images and an insatiable love for photography and adventure. Returning to the University of New Brunswick, Chris acquired a Bachelor of Education and then headed west to British Columbia.

While teaching socials at Prince of Wales High School in Vancouver, Chris fell in love with the mountains and took up mountaineering. Before long he had climbed many of the highest local mountains as well as the two highest peaks on the continent; Mount Logan in Yukon and Mount McKinley in Alaska. Since then Chris has devoted his time to sharing his love of photography and nature with people of all ages. He initiated the B.C. Quest Program for high school students, became an outdoor consultant for the Vancouver School Board to assist teachers in running outdoor trips for students, and began an outdoor club for Vancouver's Arbutus Club. Later, in partnership, Chris started Ecosummer Expeditions before leaving to start his own adventure tour company, Pathways Canada Tours. With Pathways, Chris led tours for high school students and seniors throughout western Canada and internationally. Throughout this period, Chris photographed all his adventures and shared them through slide-sound presentations in many parts of Canada.

Since 1990, Chris has been taking his photography more seriously. He established his own publishing company and has since published seven books in his series Discover British Columbia Books™. His first book, The Bowron Lakes: British Columbia's Wilderness Canoe Circuit, is a photographic depiction of one of the world's most famous canoe adventures. This is a trip which Chris has guided (and still does) for 25 years.

His second book was BC Rail: British Columbia's Great Train Adventure. This book visually describes BC Rails 450 mile route which encompasses some of the most spectacular and varied scenery in B.C. Chris' third and fourth books describe the region of central British Columbia where he lives. These are Cariboo Country: British Columbia's Spirit of the West and Chilcotin: British Columbia's Last Frontier.

The fifth and sixth books are Tweedsmuir - British Columbia's Park of Many Colours and Barkerville - British Columbia's Heritage of Gold. Chris' most recent book is Kamloops - British Columbia's Riverside City. From native pow-wow dancers to scenic countryside bathed in dramatic light, the best-seller captures the essence of Kamloops and its surrounding area. His most recent publishing venture is a Collectors Calendars series.

Chris' photographic prints are on display in galleries in Wells and at his new straw bale gallery near 100 Mile House.