Event

Standing up for the Inlet against dredging and tankers

Story | February 2026

The waters of the Burrard Inlet are under threat. There’s a proposal to dredge near the Second Narrows Bridge in Vancouver. This scraping of the sea floor could harm the nearby eel grass beds and kelp forests. And it puts orcas and whales at risk, who had only recently returned to the Inlet after years of marine restoration work.

Rueben George speaking at our Prayers for the Inlet event (Photo by Eric Woo De Paoli).

Why is the Inlet at risk of dredging?

The reason for dredging is to allow more oil to be shipped from the Westridge Marine Terminal, which is part of the Trans Mountain pipeline facility. Right now, oil tankers can fill up to roughly 80% capacity, or else they can’t fit under the Second Narrows Bridge. Proposed dredging would allow them to fill up to 100% capacity. This would result in more oil being transported, increasing the risk of an oil spill in the area. It would also lead to more toxic pollution being released into the atmosphere.

What are people doing about it?

We are working alongside the Tsleil-Waututh Nation to mobilize support for protecting the Inlet. This February, we hosted an event to invite interfaith leaders into the movement, as these folks are hubs in their communities with massive networks. Over 400 people attended in person and another 500 joined the livestream!

To keep momentum going, we’ll be organizing more in-person events and helping concerned residents participate in the project engagement period.

If you’d like to get involved, visit sierraclub.bc.ca/inlet.