BC Creek Protection Society

As most of you know the Glacier-Howser project was put on pause by the Environmental Assessment Office last year. AXOR has been collecting data and information over the past year and is expected to resubmit their application in the coming months. This means Glacier and Howser creeks are still at risk. In one week, on Tuesday June 1, the EcoSociety, in partnership with the Wilderness Committee will be hosting a ‘Rivers at Risk’ event entitled ‘Saving Kootenays Rivers from a Power Gold Rush’. Speakers include Rex Wyler, co-founder of Greenpeace and spokesperson from B.C. Citizens for Public Power, Gwen Barlee and Joe Foy from the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Gary Diers, an organic farmer who lives near Glacier and Howser Creeks, and myself, as the EcoSociety representative. Together the speakers will cover the big picture of power and sustainability, the recent history of power development in B.C. including the impacts of the Clean Energy Act which was released in April, a look at power in the Kootenay region, including an update on Glacier-Howser, and how residents can respond effectively to projects that put Kootenay rivers at risk. The event is set up so each speaker will present for about 10-15 minutes, some with films or slide shows, and the event will follow with a panel. I know I don’t need to highlight to you the significance of the discussion around IPPs and run-of-river projects in the Kootenays. However, this is a critical time for the future of energy development in the West Kootenays, and this event will work to keep the public informed and updated. If you can make it: Tuesday June 1 at 7 pm at Capitol Theatre (241 Victoria, Nelson) Admission is by donation to cover the event costs. Raelynn Gibson Climate and Conservation Coordinator West Kootenay EcoSociety 250-354-1909 Speakers Bios Rex Weyler, Communications and Research Support, BC Citizens for Public Power Rex Weyler is a passionate advocate for the protection of B.C.’s wilderness, wildlife, and public power. He is a co-founder of Greenpeace International and author of nine books, including Greenpeace: The Inside Story. In 2005, he received a Social Justice Award from the Urban Environmental Policy Center in Los Angeles recognizing his lifetime achievements. Gwen Barlee, Policy Director, Wilderness Committee Gwen Barlee’s diverse education and experience includes social work, film production, and web development, and she is a past executive team member of the Victoria chapter of the Council of Canadians. For the last several years she has focused on protecting B.C.’s rivers from private power development. Joe Foy, Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee Joe Foy has been the driving force behind many of the Wilderness Committee’s campaigns to successfully protect spectacular areas, including the Elaho Valley, Boise/Pinecone-Burke, and the Stein, Carmanah and Lower Walbran Valleys. His passion for the wild shines through in his speeches. Gary Diers, Organic farmer, Argenta Gary has lived in Argenta for over 30 years. He is an avid hiker and photographer of the spectacular wild areas of the Kootenays. He lives near Glacier and Howser Creeks and has been active in the campaign to protect them since the beginning. He has been active in the environmental movement and is incredibly familiar with the wilderness of the Kootenays.

The one hour public lecture is now available on youtube: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 University of Victoria, October 29th 2009. Part of the BC Creek Protection Society’s lecture series on environment and energy. For good reasons, climate change dominates the current headlines and presents itself as a difficult problem to solve within the framework of growth-based economies. Without a larger vision, governments have long prevaricated in taking action. Now, they seek solutions through minor policy changes, supposedly renewable energy sources and futuristic technologies. Their goal is to fix the problem–and get back to business-as-usual. However, upon close examination this approach to climate change proves to be intrinsically unsustainable. Instead, governments are prone to an ever-growing global dependence on a consumptive economic machine that is running out of space and time. This economy is oblivious to its planetary context; resurrecting it is a dream of a world gone by, all the while forsaking an opportunity for re-invention that can easily slip away. Dr. M’Gonigle is the EcoResearch Professor in Environmental Law and Policy in the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria, one of the founders of Greenpeace International, EcoJustice, Smart Growth BC, the Dogwood Initiative, and the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance at UVic. He has written extensively in the areas of resource and environmental law and policy, and has been developing a new field of green legal theory.

The BC Creek Protection Society presents GENERAL PUBLIC LECTURE David Lam Auditorium (MAC A144) 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 29th Light refreshments and snacks will be provided. Dr. Michael M’Gonigle, one of the founders of Greenpeace International, will be giving a lecture at the University of Victoria on October 29th as part of the BC Creek Protection Society’s lecture series on environment and energy, entitled: Climate Myopia: backing into the future? For good reasons, climate change dominates the current headlines and presents itself as a difficult problem to solve within the framework of growth-based economies. Without a larger vision, governments have long prevaricated in taking action. Now, they seek solutions through minor policy changes, supposedly “renewable” energy sources and futuristic technologies. Their goal is to “fix” the problem–and get back to business-as-usual. However, upon close examination this approach to climate change proves to be intrinsically unsustainable. Instead, governments are prone to an ever-growing global dependence on a consumptive economic machine that is running out of space and time. This economy is oblivious to its planetary context; resurrecting it is a dream of a world gone by, all the while forsaking an opportunity for re-invention that can easily slip away. Dr. M’Gonigle is the EcoResearch Professor in Environmental Law and Policy in the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria, one of the founders of Greenpeace International, EcoJustice, Smart Growth BC, the Dogwood Initiative, and the POLIS Project on Ecological Governance at UVic. He has written extensively in the areas of resource and environmental law and policy, and has been developing a new field of “green legal theory.”

PUBLIC MEETING: RIVER AWARENESS When: SATURDAY OCTOBER 18, 7: 00 PM Where: Great Hall in the New Community Centre, 7390 Cottonwood Dr., Pemberton, BC

Pemberton’s Ryan River along with many other free flowing rivers in BC face pressure from large-scale, fast-paced hydro power development.

The BC Creek Protection Society and a special guest speaker will present and discuss potential impacts of hydropower development in the Pemberton area and in British Columbia.

Guest Speaker: Gwen Barlee, Western Canada Wilderness Committee

The presentations will be aimed at educating the public on proposed Independent Power Projects in the Sea to Sky corridor. These local projects will also be shown in a broader context of independent hydroelectric development occurring across the entire province. An invitation is extended to the Lil’wat First Nation, N’Quatqua First Nation, Samahquan First Nation, Skatin First Nation, Douglas First Nation and any other interested parties.

Everyone Welcome!
7:00-9:00 PM: Presentations, public Q & A

The BC Creek Protection Society is hosting three seminars on Vancouver Island. The purpose of the meetings is to raise awareness about proposed hydropower development on Vancouver Island and the Coast Range (including Bute Inlet and the Klinaklini: http://www.klinaklini.info). We hope to learn from and discuss with affected First Nations groups potential positive and negative impacts. BC CPS can offer independent insight on current knowledge about ecological impacts and the environmental assessment process. June 2nd Port Hardy 6:30-8:30 PM, Civic Center June 3rd Gold River 6:30- 8:30PM, The Ridge Pub June 4th Alert Bay 6:00-8:00PM, ICNRC

The BC Creek Protection Society in association with the Graduate Student Society of The University of Victoria invites you to attend a 1-hour lecture explaining environmental, societal, and political implications of current BC government energy policy. The lecture is given by Prof. John Calvert, author of Liquid Gold: Energy Privatization in British Columbia. Wednesday, March 26th, 7:00 PM University of Victoria, Harry Hickman Building, ROOM 105 Location: http://www.uvic.ca/buildings/hhb.html Parking Lot #4: http://www.uvic.ca/maps/parkingmap.html (more…)

An educational forum presented by the New Westminster & District Labour Council Panel Presentation and Discussion Privatization of Public Power in BC (more…)

How Green is the British Columbia Energy Plan? The BC Creek Protection Society in association with the UVIC Kayak Club invites you to attend a free 1-hour public lecture critiquing the sustainability of the provincial Energy Plan, presented by noted economist Dr. Marvin Shaffer. (more…)

FOR THIS YEARS (2008) EVENT CLICK HERE

Victoria BC Rivers Day hosted by BC Creek Protection Society

Join us to celebrate the 1st BC Rivers Day in Goldstream!

UPDATE - september 26

The event will take place rain or shine, there are large rain protected areas where we can still enjoy the day standing near a warm fire, sipping tea and listening to great music. Don’t forget to bring a mug.

Admission is free!

Please note: regular vehicle parking fees apply in the park, however, if you park by the highway there is no charge.

Where: Goldstream Provincial Park.
www.naturehouse.ca

When: Sunday, September 30, 11am-4pm

Directions: The park is located 16km northwest of Victoria on the Trans Canada Hwy #1
(more…)

Book Cover (PDF download) Order Form (PDF download) From the Book Cover: Secure, reliable, and affordable electricity has been one of British Columbia’s most important competitive advantages and a key contributor to the province’s prosperity. (more…)

UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS
CHIEFS COUNCIL
WESTBANK, B.C.

Resolution no. 2007-31

RE: Private Water Power Licenses

WHEREAS the UBCIC is a political organization for Indigenous peoples in British Columbia founded in 1969, dedicated to promoting and supporting the efforts of Indigenous people to affirm and defend Aboriginal Title and Rights; (more…)

Rivers for Generations: Maple Ridge this Thursday, Aug 9th from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

We hope to continue to raise awareness for the about the threat to BC’s
rivers by private power developers, with an emphasis on RoR Inc’s danger
to the Upper Pitt. We will have a booth at the Maple Ridge Jazz and
Blues Festival (www.jazzblues.ca) on
Saturday, Aug 11th and want to make sure members of the community feel
the urgency of this issue. (more…)

PROTECT OUR SACRED WATERS. July 5, 6:30 to 9:30 at SFU Harbor Centre, 515 Hastings St.
We will have representatives from Muslim, christian, Hindi, Sikh & Indigenous peoples giving the “spiritual”
significance of water, from their perspectives. And, we will then have a panel of information
sharing from experienced peoples who have been researching this phenomenon of private
power replacing the public utility in BC. Our July 5 free event will bring together peoples
from different faith groups and Native & non-Native peoples (including environmentalists)
who are concerned about the acceleration of the process of privatizing our whole province!

Mark Angelo Presentation

Submitted by Hugh Hamilton
West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society
604-922-7828
hugheah@dowco.com
www.pskf.ca/angelo

West Vancouver Streamkeepers and North Shore Streamkeepers are hosting Mark Angelo, the well known conservationist, outdoor leader and writer who will give aphotographictrip titled Rivers of Home, a river tour of BC’s great rivers all the way down to Vancouver and the North Shore.

Please join us on Thursday May 31st. at St. Stephen’ s Anglican Church in West Vancouver. We have provided time for you to meet Mark Angelo in person, and enjoy light refreshments after the presentation.

The place and time are:
St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 885 -22nd. Street, West Vancouver
Thursday May 31st., 7:30pm - 9:30pm
There is underground parking opposite the Church on Gordon Avenue, and off Marine Drive at the Aquatic Centre

There will be a presentation by the BCCPS at Uvic on Thursday, April 5 at 7pm in McKinnon room 150. This presentation is intended to create an awareness of the society and the threats facing BC streams. Anyone and everyone is welcome. Admission is free.

This Thursday February 8th, will be our Society’s First River Impacts Seminar.

We are pleased to announce that Arthur Caldicott will be presenting to us and kicking off a discussion. Mr. Caldicott has recently published an article on Run-of-River impacts in BC. This can be found below or by clicking here.

This session will be a good introduction to the issues surrounding rivers and the power system in BC so it will be useful for those who would like to learn more about the topic.

Location: University of Victoria Cornett B355a
Time: 5:30pm to 7:30
Who is Welcome: Anyone who is interested in issues surrounding threats to rivers

We will see you there and bring a few $ to contribute to food.