A varied group of environmental advocates from northern B.C., who are opposed to hydraulic fracturing — fracking — is stopping in Squamish on its tour of the province.
The free event, Voices from the Sacrifice Zone: Fracking in B.C.'s North, will be held at Quest University's library on Tuesday, April 2 from 7 to 9 p.m.
"Fracking has rapidly spread across the Peace Region of B.C. over the last two decades, ushering in dramatic changes to the health of its lands, waters, and peoples," reads the event description. "Join us to hear candid, first-person perspectives from a diverse range of northern BC residents on their experiences with the LNG industry — and the promise of a renewable alternative."
Speakers will include, among others, from Dawson Creek — Karen Leven, an environmental scientist; family physician Dr. Ulrike Meyer; Don Pettit, founder of Peace Energy Co-op.
Also slated to speak on the panel are hereditary Chief Smogelgem (Warner Naziel), Unist'ot'en spokesperson of the Wet'suwet'en Nation and fifth-generation Peace River district farmer Karl Mattson.
Dr. Warren Bell, Salmon Arm physician and founder of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), which is presenting the event, will moderate the panel.
The event is co-sponsored by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the David Suzuki Foundation, environmental groups Force of Nature, My Sea to Sky, Sierra Club BC, as well as by Quest University and the publication Watershed Sentinel.
Other stops on the tour include Comox, Victoria (with opening remarks from Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada); Vancouver (with opening remarks from David Suzuki) and Coquitlam.
Go to www.eventbrite.ca to register.
