United for Old Growth
Why are we gathering?
Communities from across the province are coming together to rise up for the last remaining old growth! Will you join us for this day of action on September 28?
This is a critical moment for forests in British Columbia. Three years have passed since the B.C. government promised to work with First Nations to implement a paradigm-shift in forest stewardship, as laid out in the Old Growth Strategic Review (OGSR). Yet the B.C. government has made little progress on their promises. In fact, most old growth remains on the chopping block. Will you help hold them accountable?
Communities across B.C. and beyond are experiencing the worst fire season on record. Intact forests are one of our best allies in the climate crisis – they help protect us from worsening climate risks like fires and floods, they store massive amounts of carbon, provide fresh air and clean water, and so much more.
For the health and safety of our communities, let’s ramp up the pressure. This September 28 distributed day of action happens right before the B.C. Legislature returns to session. Our actions outside government offices will send MLAs back to Victoria with a strong mandate to do more for the forests and all the life they sustain. Organizers recognize that constituency office staff are not decision makers, and encourage all Day of Action participants to treat them with kindness and respect.
Join an event in your community
Check out this growing list of actions that you and your network can join. If you don’t see your community represented and want to host your own event, please check out this helpful toolkit.
Campbell River
Campbell River
- Time: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Location: Michele Babchuk’s constituency office, 908 Island Highway, Campbell River
- Contact: Campbell River Council of Canadians, surfdust@telus.net
Columbia River–Revelstoke
Columbia River–Revelstoke
- Time: 12:30-1:30 PM
- Location: Grizzly Plaza, 111 Mackenzie Ave, Revelstoke, BC
- Contact: Eddie Petryshen, eddie@wildsight.ca
Courtenay–Comox
Courtenay–Comox
- Time: 3:00 PM
- Location: Courthouse lawn, 6th Street/England Ave. in Courtenay
- Contact: saveourforeststeamcomoxvalley@gmail.com
- Additional info: Amplify the event with this downloadable poster!
Esquimalt-Metchosin and Langford–Juan de Fuca
Esquimalt-Metchosin and Langford–Juan de Fuca
- About: The Protest Art Show – For the Love of Old Growth Forests
- Time: 4:00 – 8:00 PM / Performance at 5:30 PM
- Location: Metchosin Old School, 4495 Happy Valley Rd. Metchosin
- Contact: jlarkin@gddc.com
- Additional info: Amplify the event with this downloadable poster!
Kelowna
Kelowna
- Time: 3:30-4:30 PM
- Location: Okanagan Regional Library, Rutland Branch
- Event description: ‘The Arts for Social Change: Youth Voices’ workshop is a free opportunity for youth to create art that raises awareness and inspires action in a safe and inclusive environment. We will be making postcards to send to MLAs, ministers, and the Premier to share youth perspectives on old-growth forests in B.C.
Langford-Juan de Fuca
Langford-Juan de Fuca
- Time: 1:00-3:00 PM
- Location: Ravi Parmar Constituency Office, 2806 Jacklin Road #122
- Contact: gvclimatehub.com
- Additional info: Amplify the event with this downloadable poster!
Nanaimo
Nanaimo
- Time: 12-1 PM
- Location: Sheila Malcolmson Constituency Office, 495 Dunsmuir St, Nanaimo, BC
- Contact: David Quigg, DavidQ@sierraclub.bc.ca
Nanaimo–North Cowichan
Nanaimo–North Cowichan
- Time: 12-1 PM
- Location: Doug Routley Constituency Office, 16 High St, Ladysmith, BC
- Contact: David Quigg, DavidQ@sierraclub.bc.ca
Nelson–Creston
Nelson–Creston
- Time: 12:30-1:30 PM
- Location: Brittny Anderson Constituency Office, 433 Josephine St, Nelson, BC
- Contact: Eddie Petryshen, eddie@wildsight.ca; sandra@netidea.com
North Vancouver–Lonsdale
North Vancouver–Lonsdale
- Time: 12-1 PM
- Location: Bowinn Ma Constituency Office, 221 Esplanade W, North Vancouver
- Contact: Jens Wieting, jens@sierraclub.bc.ca
Oak Bay–Gordon Head
Oak Bay–Gordon Head
- Time: 12-1 PM
- Location: Murray Rankin Constituency Office, 3930 Shelbourne St, Victoria, BC
- Contact: Em Hoffpauir, em@wildernesscommittee.org
Peachland
Peachland
- Time: 3:30-5:30 PM
- Location: Highway 97 & Clements Cresc (boulevard in front of IGA) – Rally & Banner Drop
- Contact: Taryn Skalbania: tarob@shaw.ca, peachlandwpa@gmail.com
Powell River-Sunshine Coast
Powell River-Sunshine Coast
- Time: 4:30-5:30 PM
- Location: Nicholas Simons Constituency Office, 109-4675 Marine Ave., Powell River (qathet)
Saanich South
Saanich South
- Time: 12 PM
- Location: Flashmob dance (surprise location in Saanich). Contact Amalia if you want to dance or cheer the dancers on.
- Contact: Amalia Schelhorn, amaliaschelhorn@gmail.com
Surrey-Whalley
Surrey-Whalley
- Time: 12 PM
- Location: Bruce Ralston (Minister of Forests) Constituency Office, 10574 King George Blvd, Surrey
- Contact: Karan Saggu, SagguKaran007@gmail.com
Vancouver–Point Grey
Vancouver–Point Grey
- Time: 12-1 PM
- Location: David Eby Constituency Office, 2909 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC
- Contact: Desiree Wallace, desiree@stand.earth
Victoria–Beacon Hill
Victoria–Beacon Hill
- Time: 1-6PM
- Location: Grace Lore Constituency Office, 1084 Fort St, Victoria, BC
- Contact: Judy Lightwater, jlightwater@outlook.com; Penny Crawford, xtrapcrawford@gmail.com, Paula Johansson: lynxlightwalking@riseup.net
- Event description: Indigenous-led Ceremony, Prayer walk and Street Occupation outside the constituency office. MLA has been invited to Traditional Blanket Ceremony. For timing of this and media invites check the Facebook page and this detailed event description.
- Additional info: RSVP to the event via Facebook here and download a poster to amplify the event here.
Victoria–Swan Lake
Victoria–Swan Lake
- Time: 4-6 PM
- Location: Rob Fleming Constituency Office, 1020 Hillside Ave, Victoria
- Contact: Parents4Climate, p4c@forourkids.ca
- Event description: Collaboratively creating an old-growth tree, we will have 14 boughs to represent each of the 14 recommendations of the strategic review.
- Additional details: RSVP and learn more with this Facebook page for the event.
How to host a day of action in your community
If you’re interested in hosting your own event, we’d love to support you! We’ve developed this toolkit of everything you’ll need to organize an action at your local MLA or Minister’s office – including organizing tips, downloadable posters, talking points, how to reach out to local media and more! You can access the toolkit here.
If you have any questions, please contact Sierra Club BC organizer David Quigg at davidq@sierraclub.bc.ca. And let us know about your event so we can add it to this centralized page of actions (you can use this form to submit your action details)!
Help amplify the event
We want as many people as possible showing up for forests and the communities that rely on them. Can you help spread the word with your network? You can find graphics, suggested wording and more in this amplification kit.
Have any questions?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out! If you have any questions, you can get in touch with Sierra Club BC organizer David Quigg at davidq@sierraclub.bc.ca
Featured banner artwork by Emily Thiessen.
Photo by Desiree Wallace/Stand.earth