Chapman Creek Protest Postponed

Today's planned protest at the Chapman Creek Bridge in Davis Bay has been postponed with Western Forest Products' decision to halt logging in the watershed. Instead, organizers are inviting everyone to attend "A Family Day" event in Brookman Park which is just behind the bridge. Everyone is invited and it will get underway at 11:00 am.

The People Fighting for Chapman Creek

No one can underestimate the role people have played both individually and collectively in this small victory for protection of the Chapman Creek watershed. When it became known there would be an emergency meeting today of the SCRD Board, word spread and people prepared.

It did not matter that this meeting was for Board members only to debate the pros and cons of issuing a stop work order against WFP; the people would wait. For seven hours, they kept vigil.

And, when the doors of the building were closed for the day, the people moved outside and continued to wait.

They waited to let the Board know that they believed in this cause; that this was a worthy fight. They wanted the Board to know they expected them to have the courage to act.

This are the people who set up and manned the barricades; who have stood on the street corners trying to convince their fellow citizens that this was an issue important to everyone. These are the people who wrote to the politicians and when that failed were willing to face the courts.

This battle to save the Chapman Creek watershed began with our senior citizens. People in the sixties, seventies and eighties have led the way. They have been joined by young mothers bringing along their children while their husbands worked. Now, our youth has joined the cause and while our seniors continue to stand and wait for our politicians to act, the young have been in the watershed at the logging sites. They have been watching every tree fall and now understand the message our seniors have been trying to deliver these many weeks: it is life, itself, they are fighting for.

Western Forest Products Halts Watershed Logging

Western Forest Products has voluntarily halted its logging operation in the Chapman Creek Watershed. Sunshine Coast Regional District Chairman Ed Steeves made the announcement at 5:00 pm this afternoon to demonstrators waiting outside the Board's meeting room. The SCRD called an emergency meeting at 10:00 this morning to discuss in camera the public's increasing vocal demand that the Board of Health issue an immediate stop work order to WFP. Demonstrators believe the motion passed by Gibsons Town Council earlier in the morning imploring the SCRD Board to immediately iissue a stop work order had an impact. According to demonstrators, the SCRD alternated its role as regional government and as a Health Board throughout the 7 hour meeting.

Western Forest Products will now halt all logging operations in the watershed until August 11th when the SCRD Board of Health will meet to make a final ruling as to whether logging in the watershed is a threat to public health. It is felt by many that the young people who have gone up into the logging operation on a daily basis regardless of the injunction has influenced WFP's decision.

This first major victory will be celebrated at tomorrow's demonstration at the Chapman Creek Bridge. That demonstration gets underway at 11:00 am. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Bay St Watching Chapman Creek Protests...

The Chapman Creek Watershed protests have caught the eye of Brookfield Asset Management, Inc (formerly known as Brascan). BAM has its investments spread far and wide and one of those investment vehicles is Island Timberlands which is the the second largest holder of private timberlands in British Columbia; the largest holder is TimberWest. Island Timberlands was formed following Brascan's acquisition of Weyerhaeuser's BC Coastal Timberland assets. You can be sure some of those private timberlands include watershed reserves. It is interesting to note that Island Timberlands has holdings in the Port Alberni area and the valley began fighting to protect its watershed last year after three boil waters advisories. In addition, Island Timberlands is a large exporter of raw logs to Asia and that is something else the valley has been protesting as they watch their mills closing.

BAM has a fifty percent stake in Island Timberlands with the remainder owned by two leading Canadian institutional investors. Who might these institutional investors be? Pension funds? There is the reality and irony of it; we protest logging in our watersheds and yet hold mutual funds that along with pension funds invest in companies that are logging our watersheds. Nothing in life is simple.

Well, it wouldn't be a surprise to learn that some discreet phone calls are being made right now to our provincial forestry minister or to the premier asking if these protests are annoying little bug bites or if there needs to be concern. In turn, some more discreet calls will be made to our local politicians offering some advice along the lines... "Well, now you know that funding you were looking for? Well, it might get delayed or spent somewhere else if this doesn't stop." Then we will find out how committed our local politicians are to protecting the watersheds.

Of course, one can get carried away, and perhaps this is only a case of a bored employee at Trisura taking a few minutes to read the news on the internet. That must be the case; but, look at the nice trees on their website. I think they took that picture in a watershed.

Gibsons Supports Protesters' Demands

Gibsons' Town Council held a special meeting at 8:30 this morning on the Chapman Creek Watershed. Council members passed the following motion:

"That under section 59 of the Health Act, the Town of Gibsons implore the Sunshine Coast Regional District to issue a stop work order immediately to Western Forest Products regarding active logging in the Chapman Creek Watershed."

Facebook visitors....Welcome!

To everyone arriving at this blog via Facebook postings, welcome to Save Our Watershed! The battle you will read about involves one of the most contentious issues facing our coastal communities: the BC government's sanctioning of logging in our drinking water watersheds. Not only is this happening here on the Sunshine Coast but all over Vancouver Island. It involves both private lands and public tenure. It involves old growth forests and aging second growth. It involves regional governments hamstrung by legislation that denies them the means to protect drinking water supplies while forcing them to be responsible for ensuring clean drinking water to its citizens. This policy will only change if pressure can be brought to bear on Gordon Campbell's government. We here in Egmont and those in Sechelt and Gibsons who are fighting to protect our water supplies ask you to spread the word. Support us and email our provincial government leaders.

Protestors Confront SCRD Board Chairman

About 200 protesters surrounded SCRD Board Chairman Ed Steeves and CAO John France this morning and refused to let them into the Field Road office. They demanded that the SCRD acting as a Health Board file an immediate 'stop work' order against Western Forest Products and its logging in the Chapman Creek Watershed. Steeves told the vocal crowd that the Health Board is waiting for scientific evidence that the watershed is being impacted. He also said the Board is waiting for WFP's hydrologist's report This brought angry cries from the protesters who demanded that the SCRD hire its own independent hydrologist and prepare its own report. The crowd refused to part for Steeves and France and they had to use a back entrance into the SCRD building.

Protesters say they will return to the regional government Field Road office tomorrow morning at 11:30 to once again demand the stop work order. They are asking residents to show support and join them. Bring your signs!

According to one demonstrator, there was no sign of any WFP official telling them their demonstration in the SCRD parking lot was impeding WFP's logging operations. There was also no police presence enforcing injunctions.

The demonstrators are building up to Saturday's protest at the Chapman Creek Bridge between 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Everyone is encouraged to attend with their signs and be prepared to make noise.

Egmont Logging Update...

We now have some idea of a time line for when our "logging events" will get underway. Road building into the Ruby Lake Watershed cutblock will start at the beginning of September. The Ruby Lake cut will go first.

At the same time, Tsain Ko plans to work on the reactivation of the North Lake logging road that traverses the heart of the Waugh Lake Watershed and extend that road into SIB land that butts the south end of the Skookumchuck Provincial Park. Maybe while they are there, they will tackle the cutblock next to the park in addition to logging the band's holding?

Friends of Egmont Supports Protesters

This blog is devoting a lot of space to the protests surrounding the logging in the Chapman Creek Watershed. It will continue to do because the decisions and actions taken in that watershed will impact the planned logging in our watershed.

Closer to home, a strategy meeting was held Monday evening regarding our own logging issues. Area A Director John Rees came to that meeting apparently of his own volition to explain the role of the Advisory Committee he would like to see established that would 'sit down and work with' the loggers. However, he first took the Friends of Egmont to task after reading this blog and noting our criticism of how he went about notifying this community. We stand by that post and say he should have called a community meeting himself and discussed this issue with everyone. As it is, he is asking those interested in sitting on this committee to email him. He informed us that he has received two emails expressing interest but said he was not at liberty to say who those emails were from. Why? He is afraid they will be unduly influenced before the committee meets? Is this how an open and democratic system operates? Right, carry on.

We were also informed of all the steps the SCRD Board has taken on this watershed issue. Obviously, our Director never went beyond that one post because we noted all the motions proposed and carried by the Board back on July 5th. Well, protesters down south are now sayiing, "Big Deal!!" as they watch the Chapman Creek watershed stripped of 1000 year old cedars. The SCRD is patting itself on the back for what?

Yes, we do have a unique and "delicate" issue up here with the logging to be carried out by Tsain Ko Forest Development Corporation; but, a watershed is a watershed regardless of who is doing the logging.

Gibsons Council To Meet on Watershed...

Gibsons Town Council has called a special meeting for 8:30 Friday morning (August 3). There is only one item on the agenda: the Chapman Creek Watershed. There are two issues to be discussed and these are 'Stoppage of Active Work' and 'Confirmation of Participation in Legal Proceedings.' The 'Concerned Citizens of the Sunshine Coast' asks everyone who can attend to do so particularly Gibsons residents. Show your support for a council that has continuously demanded no industrial activity in the Chapman and Gray watersheds!

Protest Moving to SCRD Building

Protesters are taking their signs to the doors of the SCRD Thursday morning (Aug 2) at 11:30. According to the 'Concerned Citizens' group, the SCRD acting as a Board of Health has the power to issue a stop work order and if Western Forest Products does not comply then they could be fined 200 thousand dollars a day and/or up to a year in jail. As well, they group says it appears legally that the Health Board Directors are not liable even if any of their decisions are reversed. The group adds that they received this advice from a lawyer connected to a highly prestigious Canadian law firm and that this advice was reviewed by and agreed with by at least two other lawyers.

Protesters say they cannot understand why the SCRD in its role as a Board of Health has only issued a "request" to stop logging or why their lawyer has not given the Board the same advice. The group will demand the SCRD reconvene immediately and issue the stop work order. They are asking for as much support as possible from all residents of the coast.

CBC Covers Chapman Creek Protest

The CBC covered today's logging protests at Field Rd and the highway. The report aired on the 6:00 pm news. There is also a write-up on the CBC website and you can read it here. As you can see in that CBC report, one of our own from Egmont was helping the cause. She and others who have headed down that way are sure this support will be reciprocated when the time comes. The public driving by is definitely showing far more enthusiasm than when these protests first began. I think the message and images of what is taking in the watershed is finally beginning to sink in. That message has reached younger residents and they were out in number adding a new dynamic to the protest.

They certainly had the attention of the police. The RCMP are a definite presence at protests since the BC Supreme court upheld Western Forest Products' injunction. The freelance journalist who was arrested yesterday didn't step foot off the IGA parking lot. So much for the freedom of the press. There is talk among the protesters that entrapment tactics were used leading up to her arrest.

It was hoped the CBC would be able to get some footage of the watershed but police would not allow them into the area. It appears they have tightened the reins after the events of Monday and Tuesday shut down the logging.

That freelance journalist has taken her video work and combined it with the video taken by Will Koop of the BC Tap Water Alliance. Koop managed to get into the watershed area last week and got shots of the heli-logging operation. Those combined videos have been posted to YouTube and you can watch it below (if you are on dial-up it will take some time to load but it is worth viewing.


For more information about the Western Yew, click here.

2 Arrested at Chapman Creek Watershed

Two individuals were arrested Tuesday at Chapman Creek. Both were women and one a freelance journalist. The other woman was taking food to the young protesters who have joined the fray. Apparently, Western Forest Product's operations were shut down as a result of all the activity: protestors blocking the helilogging landing area, people driving in and out and police trying to enforce the injunctions. No doubt, a good time was had by all. This is starting to get really interesting.

Word has it this is the second day WFP was shut down. On Monday morning, young protesters headed up the logging roads intent on stopping the logging only to be met with a barricade. This barricade had been set up by the striking unionized loggers trying to stop the non-unionized loggers working for Western from getting to work. The police arrived, spoke politely to the union workers, left and returned with an injunction and the the strikers left but apparently some time had passed and WFP called it a day.

Well, it is little surprise then that WFP's lawyers are visiting our blogs and websites. No doubt they are looking for names that they can slap injunctions on. Now, get this. Word has it that WFP officials are telling people that the injunction that brought down the barricade two weeks ago applies to protesters meeting in the IGA parking lot at the corner of Field Road & Hwy 101. A group was informed that their presence in the lot was impeding WFP's operations and therefore in violation of the junction. I've never seen a logging truck drive through the IGA parking lot. If WFP tries to broaden the scope of that injunction, they will soon find the whole population of the Sunshine Coast standing not only in the parking lot but up and down Field Road and Highway 101.

Western Forest Products is getting nasty...

It looks like all our senior citizens protesting against Western Forest Products logging foray into the Chapman Creek Watershed is getting on WFP's nerves. WFP got wind of this morning's plans to take a CBC reporter into the recent cutblocks and lo and behold if WFP didn't rouse its employees and make them set up their own logging road blockade. In addition, WFP invited the RCMP to watch the action. My source who drove into the watershed managed to avoid the blockade and escape with a warning but he wasn't certain what happened to those who went in on foot. He says the RCMP convoy included a 'paddy wagon' so it is possible the large group walking in were given an escorted ride out all the way to RCMP headquarters.

Apparently, our seniors were joined by much younger coastal residents this morning. At last! Our seniors have been carrying the torch on this issue and it is finally time those much younger step forward to help with this cause. Our seniors have set an incredible example for everyone. They have been willing to put their own security on the line for a something they believe strongly in and they have been fighting for all of us.

By the way, WFP's lawyers have been into this blog twice this morning. They are searching for something.

Democracy

When political decisions are made behind closed doors, through private conversation or correspondence with a select few, the democratic process suffers...we all suffer. True democracy, true freedom involves all the people even those who views go against the majority. That is the purpose of the debates in the House of Commons - to give the minority a voice; to let dissension be heard. When one individual feels he or she knows best and attempts to rule authoritatively and stifles debate, you have a dictatorship. When that individual includes only a select few in the decision making process, you have an oligarchy; neither one is pleasant nor democratic. Be vigilant and never fear expressing your opinion even if you stand alone.

1000 year old cedars...gone

The following pictures arrived today from Sechelt. These are before and after shots of 1000 year old cedars logged in the last few days in the Chapman Creek Watershed by Western Forest Products.


How can this be sanctioned?

Egmont & Area Strategy Meeting

Have you taken the time lately to stop by our two lakes (Waugh & North) early in the morning just to stand there and take in the view. If you haven't, you should. While you are there peer into the water and notice something we are taking for granted: how clear and clean the water it is. It is like looking through a lightly tinted window. Is this worth protecting? If so, how and to what degree? What are the community's answers to these questions? This is a reminder about Monday's night strategy meeting for residents of Ruby Lake, Earls Cove, and Egmont at 7:00 pm at the Heritage Centre. For more details, click here.

August 4th Logging Protest

'Concerned Citizens of the Sunshine Coast' will hold a logging protest this upcoming Saturday at the bridge spanning the mouth of the Chapman Creek. They ask all citizens throughout the coast who want to see a stop to logging in watersheds to join the protest for whatever time can be spared. Get your family together to make signs and exercise a right denied to many citizens of the world - the right to peaceful protest. If we don't use it, we, too, may lose it.

Saturday, August 4th, 2007
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Chapman Creek Bridge

(The bridge is located just before Davis Bay when heading north from Gibsons and just after Davis Bay when heading south.)

British Columbia - Olympics - Logging

British Columbia will welcome the world to its doors for the 2010 winter games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says the games are going "green." What does that mean? Does going "green" mean they will turn a blind eye to a hosting country that allows logging in watersheds that in turn jeopardize the drinking water of thousands of people? The wood cut down by Western Forest Products over the last few days in the Chapman Creek watershed could well end up in the building materials used at British Columbia's 2010 Olympic Winter Games venue sites. No, these games won't be 'green'; they will be as brown as the water coming out of our taps.

Bittersweet Celebration...

Last night, residents throughout the Sunshine Coast came together to show give their support and thank you to the five individuals named in the Western Forest Products injunction. That injunction to end a blockade preventing WFP from building its logging roads to cutblocks in the Chapman Creek Watershed was upheld by the BC Supreme Court and these five individuals were left with a very large legal bill. The 'Five' who were the only individuals named in the injunction graciously acknowledged the help from the coastal community and thanked the many individuals who manned the blockade with them but who were not singled out by Western Forest Products. The fund raising still continues and donations submitted to the Friends of Egmont using PayPal continue to be forwarded to the Watershed Legal Defense Fund.