Ferns, Salal, Robins and Rabbits

The deep soft eyes of an indigenous warrior painted on the side of the grocery store follow us as we walk down the main street of Chemainus. This town tells stories everywhere you go - stories of the past, the settlement of the area, the trading system and the flourishing lumber industry. The little town also tells a story of near-death at the industrialization of the mill almost thirty years ago that left 80% of the mill workers without a job, and the creative practicality that kept Chemainus alive. Often resource-based industries leave pockets of boom and bust behind them, as progress is constantly outgrowing itself. In this particular scenario, the townspeople turned to art to draw visitors to the dwindling town and collaboratively began to paint murals depicting the history of their town. Today, tourbuses roll into town at the begining of summer, laden with visitors eager to meander through streets that tell stories as you walk.

The tale of Chemainus is interesting to us because the main force driving the Enbridge Project forward is money and, consequentially, the promise of jobs to Northern communities. In our constant push for economic gain, and an increase in jobs, we must ask ourselves if the creation of 200 permanent jobs (not all of which will be in BC) are worth risking an oil spill in the waters bordering the mighty Great Bear Rainforest. Surely there are ways that communities like Kitimat can use creativity to continue growth without sacrificing ecology for the economy. Investment in local food sources, alternative energy, education, community building, and traditional crafts has a long-lasting strengthening effect on a village, and maintains the integrity of the natural world surrounding it.

Beyond Chemainus, our Canada Day parade leads us into Nanaimo for a morning of music in the harbour, and onwards to Parksville, flags flying high, for an afternoon spent on a different beach. The waterfront is a sea of red and white, teeming with people riding on pride, sunshine and beer. To me, this day is a celebration of our country, our coast and the excitement of the days to come. The journey is just beginning and we have already been blessed by so many interesting perspectives, each leading us into further understanding of how special these waters really are. Under a sky lit by fireworks, explosive flowers of light and sound, in a sea of happy half-cut summer souls, it is very peaceful. Happy Canada Day!