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In the early 40's he returned to his land once more and made it his home. He was a man who never did things half heartedly and could not stand to work with anyone who would not give a good day's work for a day's wages. He also never believed in growing old and was a great attraction for the young boys in the district. They would congregate at his shack whenever possible and he taught them to ride, shoot and appreciate anything pertaining to outdoor activities. He allowed these young people pretty much of a free hand to do as they pleased except that if they came to his place, they had to be able to put out and work like a man and not to expect to get something for nothing. I give him credit for helping to direct many young people along the trail to be the successful people they are today.
Slim remained a bachelor to the end but was not like some of our single men who appeared too shy or afraid of the girls. He loved to dance and party and had many a girl interested, but, if a girl became too interested, Slim was gone! I always believed that he knew himself too well and did not want to hurt some girl by getting married and then not being able to settle down. He loved the free life he lived and had to be able to do just as he pleased when he pleased. When he knew he had cancer and had to go for treatment, he told me he would sooner go and sit under his spruce tree to the end but knew if he tried it, some damn neighbour would just come and take him in anyway.
Slim loved rodeoing, participating in the steer riding and bareback bronc riding in his younger days and never missed a local stampede to the end. He was a first class horseman and I always believed he was the perfect example of that old saying "You can tell a man's character by his horses." Any horse he owned for any length of time put out with everything it had. Slim always considered himself as a cowboy, although, to my knowledge, he never owned a cow of his own. He did manage the Cecil Lake pasture for a few years just before he retired. Horses were always a big thing in his life and his last three outlasted him.
Written by Ellison Framst
Harold "Slim" Byrnes was also something of an author. He wrote a number of books including "Pioneer Days at Cecil Lake" and "Old Trails." He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1981. "I didn't think I deserve it," Slim said, "so I wrote to the Governor General and told him I couldn't accept it. But then my friends put pressure on me, so here I am. I must deserve it because they gave it to me."
Slim passed away on October 29, 1985 at age 75.
Byrnes' thoughts on leaving for Ottawa
I'm leaving for Ottawa to receive the Order of Canada, the highest, civilian award in our country.
It is with mixed feelings that I go, for I'm sure if I'd had any voice in this matter it would have been someone other than me who got the award.
Shortly after I came west the great depression burst on us like a bomb. Mean - and raw, and thousands of young teenagers like I myself couldn't make enough money to even mail a letter home.
But I was lucky - I came to the Peace River Country. I was dumped, lean and hungry and homesick, among probably some of the best frontiersmen and farmers and ranchers to be found. They had faith in themselves, love and respect for the land, and never-dying faith in Canada. If the grasshoppers don't come, or the drought, they told me, we'll never leave the land.
And a man of this type lived just three miles from my homestead. He sold me a fine spirited horse for half value and when it got lame, traded me another even better. He loaned me his good stock saddle when I had no money to buy one, and gave me part time work when often others had asked before me.
But he was careful not to go too far, for he was wise enough to know even with my patched jeans and runover boots, I was a very proud young cowboy. I worked at different places all over the north country, and nearly forgot the old man. I hadn't seen him for near 10 years. Suddenly I realized what the old man had done for me, and decided I'd go and see him and thank him, something I'd never bothered to do. I knew he was now old and in poor health and still on the same farm.
When I came to his place he met me at the gate, and I could see he was glad to see me. "Slim" he said, "you have grown. You've filled out a lot and put on weight. Put your horse in the barn and stay for dinner." "Henry," I said, "I've come a long way to tell you something, I'd like to thank you for the kindness you showed me when I was a young wandering cowboy. For there's no other way I can ever repay you." "Slim," he said, "it's easy, and I'll tell you how. When you get old and cranky, and some young fella, comes to your home, broke and hungry, one who has run away from home, or from school, and come west to be a cowboy - if he is a good boy, and I think you have the wisdom to know, working all over the north west, meeting bad men and good men and many, many in between - you'll be able to judge the good from the bad. Take him in, feed him, give him a bed and a roof over his head. When he leaves, give him enough money, to start him on his way. Go with him to forks in the road, and show him which road to take. With your experience you should know."
We stood together a few minutes in his cabin. Looking into the old man's eyes, I could see he was failing fast. I made some excuse to leave. We shook hands but no words passed between us. I never did say goodbye - I don't know why.
But when I got up on a small hill not far from his cabin I turned my horse broadside and waved my big cowboy hat high over my head. He waved back. I never saw him again. But I never forgot his advice. Slim Byrnes
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