By: Peter D. Scott
ISBN: 978-0-88839-788-1 [Trade Paperback]
ISBN: 978-0-88839-789-8 [eBook]
Binding: Trade Paper
Size: 6" X 9"
Pages: 208
Illustrations/Photos: 92
Publication Date: Summer 2024

Rooted in his deep love for the Chilliwack Cascades, ‘My Soul Lives in These Mountains’ pays a heartfelt homage to artist and storyteller Peter Scott. As a boy, Peter was captivated by the mountain peaks visible from his hometown in Sardis, B.C, and grew up in the shadows of some of the iconic mountain profiles of Mt. McGuire, Cheam and Slesse Peak. Raised with the traditional Stó:lō stories from his uncle and local Elders, he cultivated a deep respect for both the wild landscapes of his hometown as well as the deep-rooted indigenous culture of the area.

Peter’s artistic journey began with humble roots, inspired by Emily Carr, with his outdoor exploits receiving support and guidance from local mountain legends such as Neil Grainger. This book showcases his influences through paintings and poems that bring to life the vibrant wilderness of the Chilliwack River Valley and the various mountains peaks and wildlife it supports.

With sensory-rich descriptions that capture the sights, sounds, and spirit of the mountains, ‘My Soul Lives in These Mountains’ is more than a memoir. It is an evocative invitation to explore and connect with nature, seen through the eyes of someone who has not only traversed these paths but has also immortalized them in art and poetry. Peter Scott invites readers to wander, marvel, and cherish the wonders of the Chilliwack Cascades and help safeguard them for future generations.

Peter Scott was born in Chilliwack in 1956 and raised in Sardis. He grew up in the shadow of the Chilliwack Cascade Mountains, where he spent much of his youth hiking, camping, sketching and painting.

In 1977, he entered the faculty of education at the University of British Columbia and majored in art with a minor in geography. Peter studied art under the mentorship of the prominent Canadian painter Gordon Appelbe Smith, who helped Peter refine his impressionist style of landscape painting.

In 1978, the Chilliwack Search and Rescue, under the leadership of local mountaineer Neil Grainger and in partnership with the local RCMP detachment, applied for and received a government grant to fund a project that would update all the Forest Service maps of the Chilliwack River Valley. Peter was hired as project manager, and for two summers he and his crews slashed routes to remote areas and built and repaired, surveyed, marked and mapped popular hiking trails throughout the Cheam Range and mountains of that area. The inspiration for his artwork came from the glaciers, forests, and mountains of that region.

In 1983, Peter relocated to Quesnel, B.C., where he began a 30-year career as a secondary school art educator. Peter also spent these years raising a family, coaching a variety of sports, camping, hiking, canoeing and painting vistas of the beautiful Cariboo region of British Columbia.

In 2012, Peter relocated to Osoyoos, in Canada’s only desert, and began painting the beautiful lakes, desert landscapes and skies of the Okanagan. There he met a group of local painters known as The Artists on Main. Support and leadership from legendary local artists Helen Fisher, Sandra Albo and others helped him make the transition from high school art educator to full-time working artist.

For the past 46 years, Peter has been painting and selling his artwork professionally. His paintings reflect the vast and varied landscape of his home province, primarily the awe-inspiring Cascade Mountains of Chilliwack. Peter continues to show his work in various galleries, group and one-man shows, and sells to private collectors.

“When I first met Peter Scott in our small book and art store in Osoyoos in 2022, I immediately recognized a soul with a deep connection to the land, to story, and of course to art. My initial impression is fully borne out in this marvelous volume. Peter also wonderfully expresses here his educational roots. We learn many important things while reading his book, but the medicine goes down with the sweetness embedded in humility and humour. We learn: that knowing the importance of place begins with having a deep attachment to one place; that the best stories emerge from the Story that is bigger and older than all of us; and that making or enjoying art, whether visual or poetic or otherwise, involves the discipline of seeing the same thing over and over again and yet for the first time. I know you will savour this journey with Peter into the mountains."

— Dan Williams, proprietor of Wayside Select Books & Art

“Peter Scott's life history of adventures hiking and working in the Chilliwack mountains is a tour de force of artistry, poetry, and storytelling. Alternatively sad, poignant and hilarious, Peter runs the gamut of human emotions inspired by the majestic mountain ranges that rise out of the Fraser Valley. And the paintings! Stunning portraits of nature's power and majesty. Simply awe-inspiring. This book is a must-read for hiking enthusiasts and art and nature lovers everywhere, but especially in British Columbia where everyone has had a glimpse of the glorious Chilliwack mountains."

— Fred Rogger, avid outdoorsman and nature enthusiast

“I will never forget the first time I drove down Chilliwack Lake Road... the mountains hidden away in that valley had an almost-mythical aura. Peter clearly feels the same, and his book does a far better job at describing this magical place than I ever could. This book is a must-read for the outdoor-lover, specifically one who has had the privilege of wandering through the Chilliwack Cascades-- or who has the desire to do so. Not only do Peter's stories provide ample entertainment for the reader, but his art speaks to both a depth of understanding and a true love for these wild places. Read, enjoy, and be inspired."

— Lukas Mann, Creative Director | Mountain Athlete  exploromann.com

“I have known Peter for almost 40 years now and eagerly awaited the arrival of this book. I can only say it didn't disappoint! Being a gifted educator with incredible talent, Peter has the ability with his impressionist style of painting to turn both the feeling and energy of an outdoor setting into a work of art. Peter takes us through an engaging, at many times humorous story of his life, blended perfectly with photos of paintings which have meant the most to him along this journey. Respect for the land and the traditional territories of our Indigenous peoples is the top priority for this writer. I feel this is clearly represented in his writing, as it is in his everyday life. Peter has been a mentor to me and after all these years I am proud to call him my friend. I recommend this book to anyone that has either called British Columbia home, or has simply been inspired by its beauty. This artist's works are not done justice by photographs alone, if ever you have the chance to view or purchase an original, the brush strokes and textures of his paintings bring them to life like no other artist I have met."

— Ray Hamm, Former Director, Artists on Main, Osoyoos BC

“My Soul Lives in These Mountains is a fascinating approach to capturing the true spirit of the history of the Fraser Valley. Through poetry, paintings and storytelling Peter gives a true narrative of the Indigenous Peoples of the Fraser Valley— which are also my people, my history, and my truth. These creation stories of an era before man will bring us to a place in time where history books leave us and the mountains teach us. His paintings jump off the pages, filling us with the sacredness of the land and his poetry will move you with a sense of awe and wonder.

This is a very intimate reflection of Peter's personal history, and connection to land and to the Sto:lo Peoples. It’s a telling of history that cannot be untold. At only a year of age, the mountains spoke to Peter, instilling in him a passion for knowledge, nature and truth. Giving a voice to our Elders, he shares with us the sense of the sacredness of our traditional lands. With a personal accounting of his work in the mountains of Chilliwack, the Guardians of the Fraser Valley and the “People of the River”, will continue to speak to us. This is a book you won’t put down, a book you will go back to many times being captivated by his humor, and thrilling escapades. I highly recommend this book to all educators to bring forth the truths of our lands."

— Brenda Bonin, Sto:lo Elder, Skwah Band, Chilliwack