Paddle for the Peace

On Saturday, we were part of a very exciting event, Paddle for the Peace. More than 140 canoes, kayaks, and other types of water vessels set in at the confluence of the Halfway River and the Peace River and paddled downstream to Bear Flats. The purpose of this second annual journey was to bring awareness about the potential loss of the Peace River valley (as it now exists) if the proposed Site C dam is built. The West Moberly First Nations provided a great feast at the end of the day.

In the early nineties, there was lots of talk about the building of the Site C dam, proposed for a location about 10 km from Fort St. John, just downstream of where the Moberly River joins the Peace. Then the proposal was shelved. Recently, however, it seems as if the talk has resurfaced. The loss will be great. The valley will be changed forever. We need to speak up! Politicians, both provincial and local, are always eager for economic development, but often it is at a great price. Now is not the time to be short-sighted. We need to be conserving and preserving.

We must be good stewards of what we have, and not to be given over to the flagrant, wasteful consumerism that drives much of North American society. Now is the time to speak up. Now is the time to make those changes that we all think about but often forget to do. Conserve to preserve!