The election is over, and Trudeau is still promising to complete the government-owned Trans-Mountain pipeline without the consent of many First Nations. Construction is already starting along many parts of the route. In response, First Nations like the Tsleil-Waututh, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Coldwater are taking the government to court to enforce their rights and protect our coast.

These court cases may be our best shot of stopping this pipeline before it causes irreparable environmental damage.

RAVEN is raising funds to help First Nations pay for these legal challenges through their pulltogether.ca campaign – but so far, they are less than halfway to their fundraising goal. With hearings scheduled to begin as soon as Dec 16th , the time to stand in solidarity with First Nations is now.

On Saturday, Dec 14th, join local kayakers, canoeists, first nations, environmentalists, and concerned residents of all kinds at Banfield park dock for a family friendly community paddle in the Victoria Harbour. The event will feature a 1 hour paddle, a large on-the-water banner, and a community meal. All proceeds will go to Pull Together to fund the fight to protect our coast.

We encourage all participants to sign up with pull-together to mobilize Pledges from family members, friends, neighbours and co-workers in support of the First Nations legal challenge to the pipeline.

Sign Up:
https://fundraise.raventrust.com/team/268284

Please see our Safety Policy and Participant Consent Agreement for all paddlers.

Safety Policy:
https://turningthetideca.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/community-paddle-for-the-coast_safety-policy.pdf

Participant Consent Agreement:
https://turningthetideca.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/community-paddle-for-the-coast_participant-consent-agreement.pdf

Participants who want to support the paddle from land can observe from the Johnson st. Bridge.

To volunteer with the Paddle, contact riseandresistkm@gmail.com.

This event is brought to you by Rise and Resist, the Social Environmental Alliance, Turning the Tide, Climate Justice Victoria, Greenpeace local group and Surfrider Vancouver Island.

We respectfully acknowledge that this event is held on the unceded territories of the Lekwungen peoples of current-day Songhees and Esquimalt nations, who have carefully stewarded these lands we all now call home since time immemorial and since first contact have resisted the colonial system that has brought the biosphere to this tipping point.