People throughout the Salish Sea, from Puget Sound to Johnson Straight, are gathering on Saturday September 15 to celebrate our magnificent home, and to highlight risks posed by fossil fuel infrastructure in the Salish Sea.

Renowned for its natural beauty, wildlife, artists, musicians, craftsmanship and the diversity of cultures and ecosystems, the Salish Sea is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.  One of the greatest joys for visitors to the Salish Sea is a sighting of a pod of Southern Resident Orca.

 On Saturday, September 15, residents from Salt Spring Island will come together for a festive Salish Sea Day of Action. Beginning with a parade of 76 orcas between the Saturday Market and Fall Fair, the day continues into the evening with a fundraising concert at Beaver Point Hall. 

The daytime event highlights the stories of the individual whales in the resident orca J and L pods: people who walk with a whale puppet get to know the stories of each whale and how they are related to one another.  Join the colourful parade at 11 am, starting at the bandstand in Centennial Park. 

The Day of Action doesn’t stop there! Everyone is invited to a community gathering and concert at Beaver Point Hall. Attendees will be treated to a show by Vancouver soul-funk troubadour Buckman Coe (and special guests). At 7 pm, guests are invited to bring flowers and participate in a “biodiversity blessing” ceremony and traditional Coast Salish welcome. From 7:30, enjoy a succulent array of desserts, chai, kombucha and teas while we hear from RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs) about ways we can all participate in protecting the Salish Sea from reckless industrial development. From 8:30 onwards, enjoy a concert followed by DJ dance party. 

The tragic story of Tallequah, the orca mother who carried her stillborn calf for 16 days, was a powerful and poignant call-to-action. With declining food supplies and increasing disruptions due to boat traffic and undersea noise, the orcas are also threatened by the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline and tankers project. The daytime parade is a way to bring the orcas onto the streets and to gather signatures from people interested in taking part in a cross-border citizen’s lobby to defend the Salish Sea ( sign up here: http:onecoast.eco) . The evening concert is a fundraiser for Indigenous legal challenges: donations to RAVEN are tax deductible.

What: Parade and Concert to celebrate and protect the Salish Sea

Who: Community members and representatives of RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs) When: Saturday, September 15, 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Where: DAYTIME: Centennial Park EVENING: Beaver Point Hall

When: Saturday September 15, 11-1 (parade), 7pm-midnight (gathering/dance)

If you wish to carry an orca, please contact andrea@raventrust.com to be paired with a whale and plan to attend between 10:30 and 1 pm. 

For tickets to the evening event visit https://actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/celebrate-the-salish-sea-with-buckman-coe/ or e-transfer $20 to andrea@raventrust.com