It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Harvey Rowland on September 17, 2023 at the age of 78.
Harvey passed away peacefully with his family by his side at the Selkirk hospital after a brief illness.
Harvey is survived by his children Charlene and Devin and his wife Josephine.
Harvey was a quintessential outdoorsman and his love of nature was infused into every aspect of his life and spirituality. He had an enormously kind heart and his compassion and integrity created countless treasured and deep-rooted friendships.
Harvey was born on March 8, 1945 and grew up around Eriksdale and Lundar, Manitoba. As a young man he traveled to British Columbia and worked in the timber mills of Bella Coola for a couple of seasons. He always reflected about the wild beauty of the ecology that he witnessed during that time.
Harvey eventually traveled back to Manitoba and settled down to raise a family in Winnipeg. He had a long career with the Canadian National Railway as an electrical journeyman in the Transcona and Symington yard sites. He retired from CN after 35 years of service in 2005.
The next chapter in his life was spent blissfully fulfilling his dream of moving back to the country and building a home near Lake Winnipeg at Patricia Beach (a.k.a Stony Point) with his beloved Josephine. Together they established a gorgeous homestead and spent 15 years stewarding 120 acres before moving to Garson.
Harvey loved watching the animals that shared their property and felt kinship with the eagles, owls, bears and other creatures who visited them throughout the seasons. He was a tender hearted animal lover and adopted many dogs & cats throughout his life including his dearest dogs Cody, Mark and Rocky.
Harv felt a strong connection to the beach and worked for several years at the Patricia Beach Provincial Park as a caretaker. He especially enjoyed all the people he met at the beach as well as his early morning walks along the shore which brought him peace and serenity.
Harvey loved wilderness camping and going canoeing with family and friends. One of his favorite places to paddle was at Nopiming Provincial Park. He stayed at Tulabi Falls campground countless times with family and friends to revel in the beauty and splendor of nature. In his later years, Harv also enjoyed the opportunity to travel abroad to Australia and the Yucatan and explore the environments and cultural monuments of those places.
Music was deeply inspiring for Harvey as well. He especially enjoyed folk, roots and political music and attended the first Winnipeg Folk Festival in 1974. Harv was a Folk Fest volunteer for over 3 decades and made dozens of long lasting and meaningful friendships there. He loved attending live concerts and he & Josephine hosted dozens of music jams and Home Routes concerts at their Patricia Beach home.
Harv was an incredible handyman and mechanic. His friends say that he could fix just about anything, given time, in his own way. He would always help a friend in need with a task or job and loved building creative projects that were both functional and beautiful.
The loss of Harvey has left an enormous space in his community of family and friends that will never be filled. His life touched so many people in immeasurable ways. He was a bright shining light that shone joy onto so many. He is gone, but we will always be able to find him sparkling down on us from his new home in the stars.
Cremation has taken place; a celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Harvey’s memorial page by using the comment field below.
Harv cared deeply aboutsocial justice and we had many stimulating discussions on how to make the world a better place. He was also an important connection for us at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. The Festival just won’t be the same without him and his assessment of the various performances. And he was the best ever fire maker. We have many fond memories of tramping through the snow on a new year’s day looking for just the right spot for a fire at Patricia beach. His memory lives on in our little Nopiming cabin which he wired for us so that we could enjoy power. He is truly a big loss from our circle of friends. Our hearts go out to his family. He will bedeeply missed by Howard and Yvonne.
Wow! Yes, for sure, such fabulous memories, especially of the 1997 New Year’s Day long trek out to the end of Patricia Beach for a fire with you two, Harv and Jo, and my son’s father.
My son Gé was 9 months old. We cooked smokies on Harv’s wonderful fire. What a great time that was! Such great memories of that wonderful man!
We will miss Harvey although only meeting him last summer while he was walking his beloved “Rocky” dog…Both of us felt we had known Harvey a long time although he & Jo had only moved to Garson a few years ago…Very much enjoyed hearing of his adventures, in travelling, his listening to 60’s icons like Joan Baez.. his view points on social justice, society changes, Folk Fest memories, so likeminded as many of us! His spirit will linger ….Condolences to Jo, Charlene, Devin , extended family and all his many friends…
Our sympathy to Harvey’s family! Harvey lived next door to us in Winnipeg for a few years when Charlene & Devin were young children. We recall Harvey’s pleasure in taking beautiful pictures of nature at that time!
Sincerely,
Jim & Judy Coleman
Sending love and condolences to your family and friends. May he rest in peace.
We will miss seeing and waving to Harvery walking his dog, Rocky.
Condolences to Josephine and Charlene and Devin.
May you find peace and comfort in his memory. Though I didn’t know your father, I know you and that means he must have been amazing.
I met Harvey while he was working at Patricia beach. He will be missed by his many beach friends. RIP Harvey, you are one in a million!
So sorry to hear of Harvey’s passing. Always with an encouraging word and always looking out for the land. Always the great conversationalist. Always a friend. He will be missed. Condolences to the family.
Condolences to the family. I knew Harvey from Patricia Beach.
We had many interesting conversations. He will be missed.
I am so sad to hear of Harvey’s passing. My condolences to Harvey’s family and friends.
I will fondly remember many hours in conversation, at one of our favourite spots, Patricia Beach. This is where I first met Harvey almost 20 years ago. He was always a thoughtful, and keenly interested in nature, and new ways of thinking about the universe.
I have known Harvey since first attending Pat Beach 12 years ago.
His memorial tribute and comments here are a true testament too who he was .
Condolences too the family.
Our deep condolences to Harvey’s family.
David and Linda Jones
Will be missed PAT BEACH ,LOOK out for newcomers on beach give out great advice on life and to live it to its fullest .Peter (Selkirk)