Squamish had one of the largest turnouts in a province-wide protest against Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway pipeline this week.
On Wednesday (Oct. 24), an estimated 350 people participated in two rallies one at noon and one at 5:30 p.m. to voice their concern over the contentious project, rally organizer Nicole McRae said.
The demonstrations were a part of a day of action called Defend Our Coast, which saw approximately 6,268 citizens throughout B.C. brave the weather with signs and banners.
The largest gathering in the province took place in Davis Bay, with 500 protesters setting up camp outside Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons's office. Squamish's event followed Courtenay's 400-person rally, tying with a demonstration outside of Premier Christy Clark's office in Vancouver. The Chief's initial estimate for the first Squamish event was approximately150 protesters, followed by about 80 people that evening.
McRae said she couldn't be happier with the turnout.
It was incredible, she said.
With West Vancouver- Sea to Sky's MLA, Joan McIntyre having announced she won't run for re-election, McRae said she saw little point in attending a protest outside McIntyre's office and opted for Nexen Beach instead.
More than 200 locals signed a petition against a Canada-China trade deal signed recently by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The investment deal, which is set to take effect on Nov. 1, will expose Canadian taxpayers to billions of dollars in potential damages if Chinese firms claim they were wronged by Canadian government actions, McRae said.
As the rally came to an end, the big question on most protesters' minds was What's next? McRae said. People want an outlet to voice their opposition to the proposed pipeline that would run along a 1,177-kilometre route from Alberta to Kitimat, she said.
McRae received an email by Defend Our Coast asking for feedback on the next steps. The organization is also examining the creation of regional councils.
I have been wondering, 'How do I make a make a difference?' for a year and a half, she said.
There are a enough people on the Squamish Defend Our Coast Facebook site to easily put to together more events, McRae noted.
The province-wide action came two days after a big demonstration outside the legislature in Victoria. On Monday (Oct. 22), an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people stood up in opposition to both the Northern Gateway and Kinder Morgan's Trans-Mountain pipelines.
Defend Our Coast organizers not return a request for interview before press deadline.
Defend Our Coast organizers not return a request for interview before press deadline.
