Remember Clayoquot Summer 1993? Were you here? It was a heady time, and it changed the world.
This year is the 20th anniversary, and we’re planning a party!
Twenty years ago thousands rushed to join Friends of Clayoquot Sound to peacefully protest and blockade the bridge that allowed MacMillan Bloedel to devastate clayoquot’s forests. Their action turned into the largest act of peaceful civil disobedience in Canadian history and continues to influence the Canadian environmental movement today. To honour and celebrate the courage of the blockaders FOCS is holding a “Clayoquot Wild Weekend” from August 8th to 11th. The Clayoquot Wild Weekend will also be a time of reflection and planning as we gear up to confront the ongoing threats to the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve.
Thursday August 8th “Clayoquot ’93” Panel Discussion and Social
Tofino Community Hall Doors: 7:30 pm, Event: 8:00 pm
Tickets: 10$ at Mermaid Tales Bookshop and Common-loaf Bakery.
Join a panel of key figures, locals and arrestees from the 1993 logging protests as they discuss the events of the 1993 Clayoquot blockades, weaving a colourful tapestry of history! The event will be held in the Community Hall, tickets are 10$ and are available in advance from the Mermaid Tales bookshop and from our board members some tickets will also be available at the door, but don’t wait to the last minute!
On the Panel and their roles in 1993:
Valerie Langer: FOCS Forests Campaigner
Tzeporah Berman: FOCS Blockade Coordinator
Elizabeth May: organized Sierra Club Canada’s coast to coast Clayoquot Express rail caravan in 1993
Chris Hatch: key FOCS volunteer
Karen Mahon: Greenpeace organizer, key ally
John Cashore: NDP Minister of Environment and later Aboriginal Affairs
Terry Brown: arrestee
Maureen Fraser: Tofino local, FOCS supporter
Joe Martin: key ally and Tla-o-qui-aht cultural leader
Friday, August 9th: Outdoor Concert and Evening Market in Tofino Tofino Village Green, 7:00 pm Join FOCS on the Village Green in Tofino for an evening of live music, dancing, a night market, and guest speakers addressing the future of Clayoquot Sound. Musical performances by folk artist Bob Bossin, local rock group Ballistic Pig and electronic-indie band Roof Top Runners.
Check out the Sulphur Passage song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxGjtMk7CNY
August 10th: Day at Kennedy Lake’s Rainbow Beach
Join FOCS out at Kennedy Lake for a photo op on the Kennedy River bridge, Paddle Boarding, some rainforest walks, frank discussion about the future of the Sound, and bring your instruments for jamming! We will run a car convoy from the Tofino-Uclulet junction to Kennedy lake at 10:30, 11:00, 11:30 and a return convoy from 3:30, 4:00, 4:30. Look for the signs at the junction and along the West Main logging road. Self sufficient camping may be available at Rainbow Beach from the 8th to the 11th of August, please contact emery@focs.ca with any questions you may have!
