Neil Young joins massive rally for old growth forests in B.C. capital
A huge crowd gathered in downtown Victoria Saturday to voice opposition to old-growth logging in B.C. and call on Premier David Eby to speed up efforts to protect ancient forests.
Eby was on the mainland, marking his 100th day in office by announcing another round of affordability credits to help residents cope with the rising cost of living.
In the capital, demonstrators gathered at Centennial Square and marched down Douglas Street to the legislature building, where they listened to speakers and took in a surprise musical performance by Neil Young.
Young, playing acoustic guitar and harmonica, sang two songs: “Comes A Time,” which has a chorus about tall trees, and his hit “Heart of Gold.”
Young also addressed the crowd between songs, saying thank you Canada and calling old trees sacred and precious.
He was introduced by his wife, actress Daryl Hannah, who said the cold weather was giving her a bit of brain freeze.
The hundreds of people attending the rally cheered wildly as Young, who appeared unannounced, took to the stage and started to play his harmonica.
Dubbed the "United We Stand for Old Growth Forests! Declaration, March and Super-Rally," the action took place in response to the B.C. government's failures to protect the province's most at-risk old-growth forests from logging, according to a statement from the organizers.
The initial group of signatories to the declaration included the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Elders for Ancient Trees, Sierra Club BC, Stand.earth, and the Wilderness Committee.
More than 220 organizations – including BC General Employees Union (BCGEU), the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association and the BC Teachers’ Federation Committee for Action on Social Justice – had signed on to the declaration as of Saturday.
Scheduled speakers at the rally included environmentalist David Suzuki, Pacheedaht First Nation elder Bill Jones and Karen Price, an ecologist and provincial Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel member.
"Old growth forests are vital for the health our lands and waters, our salmon and our culture, and the days of cutting them down need to end," said walas 'Namugwis, David Knox, a Kwakwaka'wakw Hereditary Chief and member of the Kwakiutl Nation, in a statement from organizers.
"Too much land in our territory has been destroyed, and this continues without the free, prior and informed consent of our chiefs and people."
The declaration accuses Eby's BC NDP government of failing to implement the 14 recommendations from the Old Growth Strategic Review, despite promising to do so during the 2020 election campaign under former leader John Horgan.
“Human beings have become the dominant factor altering the physical, chemical and biological properties of the planet on a geological scale,” said Suzuki in the organizers' statement.
“In a critical moment when climate change and mass species extinction are undeniable, it’s an intergenerational crime to trash these priceless treasures for short term economic and political benefits.”
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
LIVE UPDATES Critical infrastructure 'successfully protected': Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials in an update said all critical infrastructure in the townsite has been "successfully protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant."
Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have burned in a wildfire.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
Tourist suffers 3rd-degree burns to feet after losing flip flops amid soaring temperatures in Death Valley
A tourist was hospitalized after suffering third-degree burns on his feet on Saturday when he lost his flip flops at a national park in California where temperatures soared past 50 C.
'There's mom and dad's house': New video appears to show destruction of Jasper neighbourhood
Video posted to social media on Thursday morning appears to show the charred remains of a Jasper, Alta., neighbourhood.
Former judge with disputed Cree heritage likely has Indigenous DNA: law society
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
Australian field hockey player opts to amputate part of his finger in order to compete in Paris Olympics
In the run up to the Paris Olympics, athletes have been stepping up their preparations in order to maintain their edge over competitors. But for Australia’s Matt Dawson, those preparations looked a little different this year, with the field hockey player opting to have part of his finger amputated in order to compete in the Games.
Canada to bring home fewest Olympic medals since 2012, according to forecaster
Fewer Canadians are expected to reach the Paris podium than in the previous two Olympic Summer Games, a global data analytics company predicts.
Jennifer Aniston criticizes JD Vance for 'childless cat ladies' remarks: 'I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children'
Jennifer Aniston is criticizing JD Vance for comments he made in his past about women without children.