They cheered and waved placards up and down the Sea to Sky Corridor as thousands of cyclists whizzed by.
The point was to raise awareness of the beauty and ecology of Howe Sound, according to My Sea to Sky organizers who planned the rally Saturday along the RBC GranFondo Whistler route through Squamish.
“For us, it is a day of celebration,” said Squamish’s Delena Angrignon, who is regional coordinator for My Sea to Sky.
“It is not really a protest against, it is more of a celebration of what we love and we want people to know that these communities along the sound are united to protect what we all are enjoying right now with the clean air and the healthy oceans and just the incredible beauty that is unique.”
Angrignon said many of the 80 people demonstrating had family and friends riding in the event.
Fellow supporters from Concerned Citizens Bowen were also on hand waving placards, she said.
There were demonstrators at various spots along the Sea to Sky Corridor Gran Fondo route, including at the Taylor Way exit in Vancouver, Britannia Beach and in Squamish at Totem Hall, the Squamish Adventure Centre and in Garibaldi Village.
Sharon Williams-Gosnell of Squamish was in front of the Adventure Centre just before 8 a.m. Saturday holding a placard that read “We Love Howe Sound: Come Ride Soon.”
“I am here because I don’t support the Woodfibre LNG and I think it is really important to get us off fossil fuels and get us working towards clean energy,” said Williams-Gosnell. She said the rally was held during the GranFondo because of the number of people it attracts.
Angrignon said the demonstration raises awareness with riders and visitors who may not be aware of the potential LNG plant in Howe Sound.
“This is an opportunity to say we want this event to continue for years… and we are going to stand out there and cheer them on, and along the way, we hope the seeds that there are communities that are standing up to keep what we have,” she told The Squamish Chief before the rally.
The group formed in March 2014 in opposition to the proposed Woodfibre LNG liquid natural gas export facility planned for southwest of Squamish.
GranFondo organizers were made aware of the My Sea to Sky rally in advance and had no issue with it, according to Neil McKinnon of GranFondo Canada.
“From our perspective, it is pretty much a no-brainer. I mean people are out cheering people on for a host of different reasons,” McKinnon said. “I am not going to comment on their reasons, but obviously people are cheering on grandfathers, and mothers and kids and families; they are supporting causes for charities… they can express themselves in a positive way, and we have no issue with that.”
McKinnon said his only concern originally was the safety of riders, but once he was confident the demonstrators were not going to impinge on the sporting event, he had no problem with the plan.
