A group of about 30 protestors gathered on either side of Highway 101 near the Davis Bay pier to stand in solidarity against old growth logging. Cars honked as they passed, protestors shaking their signs, drumming, singing and waving. When a logging truck rumbled by, the group got much louder.
The event was part of Forest March B.C.’s show of solidarity that took place across more than 25 communities in B.C. They were marking the nearly seven months of protestors blockading at Fairy Creek rainforest near Port Renfrew, which they say is home to the last un-logged watershed in the San Juan River system.
The logging company Teal Jones has filed an injunction against the protestors — who call themselves “ancient forest protectors” — preventing their access to cutblock Tree Forest License 46.
Meanwhile, the provincial government released its Old Growth Strategic Review in September. The report contained 14 recommendations. So far, the NDP has taken action on four of the recommendations.
“There's a clear distinction between Fairy Creek blockading for six months and the government not living up to their promise for six months,” Lila Clift, one of the event organizers, told Coast Reporter at the protest.
Elizabeth Waite, 24, spearheaded organizing the local event in Davis Bay after she learned about the situation at Fairy Creek and the solidarity events.
The province-wide events were also part of the international Fridays for Future youth protests, and just days ahead of International Day of Forests (March 21) and World Water Day (March 22).
Clift, 22, is part of the Gambier Guardians youth group, and the two reached out to Elphinstone Logging Focus, the Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers Society, the BC Green Party and other organizations about the event.
Waite said she was pleased with the turnout at the protest, particularly in spite of the rain.
“I love how there's a whole bunch of generations here. There’s kids...someone told me they've been fighting for 50 years for this kind of stuff. And it's amazing to see everyone here together,” Waite said.
Waite, a Sunshine Coast resident for 21 years, said the protestors want to see a reform of the forestry industry in B.C. and on the Coast, in order to create a more sustainable industry.
“We don't want young men to be out of jobs, but we need to keep our forestry industry strong and protected by limiting old growth to be cut. And that's why a lot of people voted with the NDP on their promise that they would protect and hold old growth logging and they didn't,” Clift said. “So we're here today across from the MLA office to make a little noise and say we're pretty unhappy.”
Clift said the pandemic has played a role in sharpening people’s focus on the importance of natural spaces.
“And now they realize that they're being taken away from us [at] an unprecedented rate. So, I hope that people get out into their backyards. I hope they tell 10 people that they know that, hey, Fairy Creek is about to be logged. That's our last rainforest.”
-- With files from Times Colonist
