Protestors with “Save Old Growth” blocked part of the Highway 1 near Horseshoe Bay Wednesday morning, coming together to demand an end to old growth logging in the province.
The demonstration comes as part of a weeks long campaign by the group, who have currently had 30 members arrested so far.
Starting at around 7:30 a.m., protestors blocked all lanes of Highway 1 westbound towards the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal.
All lanes were blocked this morning on the Trans Canada Highway towards the horseshoe bay ferry terminal #SaveOldGrowth pic.twitter.com/6YRVAxihRc
— Save Old Growth (@saveoldgrowth) January 26, 2022
The group began actions earlier this month, with their demands for old growth logging to be stopped by Jan. 9 going unheard. Expecting arrests, the group said it would use superglue in its efforts to block traffic.
West Vancouver Police Department confirmed that one arrest was made, after the group of around 10 people were asked to disperse.
“The campaign will continue to be blocked multiple times per week, and the frequency and scale of actions will escalate until all old growth logging is stopped. The government has an option to fulfill its election promises or send nonviolent people on the motorways to jail,” Save Old Growth wrote in a statement.
One person glued to the Trans Canada Highway on the way to horseshoe bay ferry terminal #SaveOldGrowth pic.twitter.com/pJQY8EQqCR
— Save Old Growth (@saveoldgrowth) January 26, 2022
Organizer Zain Haq said the B.C. government is “destroying the country, this is our last resort.”
“We are scared of sitting down on the road, but will keep doing it until the government throws us in prison or keeps their own promise to save old growth. Premier Horgan is destroying his own legacy,” Haq said.
Translink had earlier advised customers that bus 257 has a detour in place, riding along Marine Drive from Park Royal to Horseshoe Bay. Normal service resumed soon after the highway was cleared.