Tag Archive for: united for old-growth

March begins noon from Centennial Square, rally to start 1:30pm at BC Legislature

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 24, 2023

Lekwungen Territories (Victoria, B.C.) – Organizers are anticipating high attendance at the United for Old Growth march and rally on Saturday, February 25. The march will feature a strong visual component with banners, mobile murals and 3D art pieces, while the rally will platform Indigenous leaders, land defenders, scientists and musicians.

What: United For Old Growth March and Rally

When: Saturday, February 25. March begins noon at Centennial Square; rally program starts at 1:30 p.m. at BC Legislature

Where: The march and rally are taking place on Lekwungen territories (Victoria, BC). Participants in the march are asked to convene at Centennial Square (Pandora Ave. and Douglas St.) by noon, and walk together to the BC Legislature (Belleville St. and Government St.).

Who: The walk from Centennial Square will be led by First Nations and Indigenous leaders and drummers

Speakers and performers include:

• Chief James Hobart, Spuzzum First Nation
• Kwakwaka’wakw Hereditary Chief David Knox, Kwakiutl First Nation
• Janelle Lapointe, Afro-Indigenous climate justice and Indigenous rights organizer, Stellat’en First Nation
• Elder Bill Jones, Pacheedaht First Nation
• Rainbow Eyes, land defender, Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation
• David Suzuki, legendary environmentalist and broadcaster
• Dr. Karen Price, independent ecologist and provincial Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel member
• Music: ANSWER Women’s Drum Group and Sarah Osborne
• Emcee: Sonia Théroux

Day-of primary media liaison: Tegan Hansen, tegan@stand.earth, +1 (250) 354-3302 (cell, text, WhatsApp, and Signal)

Photos and videos will be updated here during and immediately after the march and rally

Background:

More than 220 organizations have now signed onto the United for Old Growth declaration, including First Nations, labour groups, teachers’ associations, tourism businesses, and environmental organizations. Signatories and participants in this march and rally are calling on Premier David Eby and the BC NDP government to honour their promise to move faster to protect old growth forests and reform forest stewardship across the province. February 25 aligns with Eby’s 100th day in office, and demonstrators are looking to the Premier to take immediate, concrete steps to put at-risk old growth forests off limits to industrial logging – as a central part in fulfilling his 100-day pledge to accelerate action on old growth.

Additional contacts:

Torrance Coste, torrance@wildernesscommittee.org, +1 (250) 516-9900

Jackie Larkin, jlarkin@gddc.com, +1 (250) 478-7604

Jens Wieting, jens@sierraclub.bc.ca, +1 (604) 354-5312

Poster design: Emily Thiessen