Skip to content

WATCH: Day one down of the Walk 4 the Salish Sea, three more to go

Hundreds of people took to the road to draw attention to the opposition of the federal government’s recent approval for the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.
web1_170526-PNR-M-sign
A group of protesters outside the Tsawout First Nation gymnasium who just returned from the 23-kilometre walk starting at Victoria’s Mile 0 and ending at Island View Beach on the Saanich Peninsula. (Alisa Howlett/News staff)

With about three hours of remaining sunlight to spare the participants of the Walk 4 the Salish Sea reached the Tsawout First Nation on the Saanich Peninsula.

Yesterday marked the first day of the four-day walk, from May 25 to 28, where social activists will traverse more than 75 kilometres from Mile 0 in Victoria to the gates of the Westridge Kinder Morgan Terminal in Burnaby. This is in effort to draw attention to the opposition of the federal government’s recent approval for the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion. More generally, it is to draw attention to fossil fuel expansion (particularly in the tar sands of Alberta) and the ecological damage being inflicted on the environment.

“Maybe this could be some positive progress … and not just digging ourselves deeper into this planet,” said Gary Gagne, one of the walkers, from Salt Spring Island.

Gagne, 67, set aside his walking poles and flopped down on a bench outside the Tsawout gymnasium next to Jackie Larkin, 72, from Metchosin. Sticking out of Larkin’s backpack was a purple flag that read, “The Rolling Justice Bus.” Larkin said she has long been a part of environmental efforts across the province, while listing off her fervent opposition to the Site C Dam, LNG and Kinder Morgan.

“It couldn’t have been a more perfect day,” Larkin said. “The Lochside Trail is beautiful and it was well shaded, the honey suckle was out …”

Gagne said he wasn’t planning on doing the full four-day walk, but after he heard Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May would be walking the whole way, he jokingly said he might reconsider.

Disparate groups of exhausted-looking walkers dotted the grass outside the gym; many of them still holding up protest signs, some stretching leg muscles and others seemingly napping.

North Saanich councillor Jack Thornburgh was one of the fatigued walkers.

“I had sort of hoped there would be more councillors here, because this is so critical,” he said, of protecting the Salish Sea.

A potluck feast and entertainment was awaiting the sun-beat protesters who had just walked 23 kilometres through Victoria’s downtown, the Galloping Goose and Lochside Regional Trail.

Around 75 people did the full 23-kilometre trek, but around 250 more people joined them in support at the fundraising event for the Pull Together-legal defense for the Coldwater, Squamish and Tsleil-waututh First Nations fighting Kinder Morgan in court and for the work of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, Coast Protectors.

Everyone was welcomed by Tsawout Chief Harvey Underwood who said of the evening, “to me, it’s like a celebration for a good fight to stop the Kinder Morgan.” With the pipeline expansion, he continued, “our way of life would be disrupted for life.”

Former Douglas Treaty co-ordinator and emcee for the evening Eric Pelkey said his traditional name means, “land by the sea” so this issue is very dear to his heart.

As more supporters trickled into the gym and people lined up for the buffet-style feast of smoked salmon and summer salads, the Warhawks drum group played for everyone.

While waiting in line for food, Elizabeth May told Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen that she ached all over from the walk.

“The walk was wonderful – physically, I’m pretty stiff and sore. We’ll see how I am Sunday,” she said with a laugh.

Part way through the walk, May said she was experiencing pain down her side similar to before she had hip surgery. A yoga practitioner on the walk convinced May to ditch her cane for a set of walking poles and May said it made all the difference.

Later on in the evening First Nations elders, along with members of non-profit environmental groups, addressed the audience with their concerns on environmental issues.

Tsawout elder Mavis Underwood said the walk was the most direct form of social activism and she is happy non-profit environmental groups are coming together in support with First Nations.

The event was organized completely by volunteers. The walkers are scheduled to depart from Island View Beach around noon on Friday, May 26, where they will be headed to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to depart for Tswawassen and continue the rest of their journey.

For more, visit walk4salishsea.ca.

web1_170526-PNR-M-polers
Jackie Larkin from Metchosin and Gary Gagne from Salt Spring make quick friends over a common cause: the opposition of the expansion of the Kinder Morgan Pipeline. Both had just reached the Tsawout First Nation gymnasium and took a much-needed rest. (Alisa Howlett/News staff)
web1_170526-PNR-M-DSCF1492
Dennis Tallio and Gordon Larochelle taking a breather after the 23-kilometre trek for the Walk 4 the Salish Sea effort. Tallio was on the phone with his mother letting her know he made it safely and Larochelle was relaxing in the grass with a Gatorade nearby. (Alisa Howlett/News staff)
web1_170526-PNR-M-protestors
Over 300 people filled the Tsawout First Nation gymnasium on Thursday, May 25 in support of the Walk 4 the Salish Sea protest. (Alisa Howlett/News staff)