Protester superglued hand to Trans-Canada Highway in B.C. old-growth logging protest
A protester superglued their hand to the surface of Highway 1 during a protest against old-growth logging in West Vancouver, B.C.
A group gathered on the stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway leading to the ferry terminal in West Vancouver Wednesday morning, including the activist who used glue to make their point.
Most held yellow and black signs with the message, "Save Old Growth."
One person was taken into police custody before the demonstration was broken up and the highway reopened.
Co-ordinator Ian Weber told CTV News that the goal of these protests is to permanently end all old-growth logging in the province.
"We're just ordinary people who are terrified about our future. We want a habitable planet and we've seen, this past year, so many tragedies," he said in an interview in West Vancouver.
He listed the heat dome, a climate phenomenon that claimed hundreds of lives in British Columbia over the summer, as well as destructive flooding in November that left some of the province's highways closed for weeks.
"This is going to happen naturally, so we're trying to wake people up, to have them try to save old-growth, and more."
In a news release later in the morning, police confirmed a single arrest out of 10 protesters who were on the highway near Caulfeild.
"After being asked to disperse by officers, all but one woman moved off the highway," the West Vancouver Police Department said in a statement.
"This woman was arrested for obstructing the roadway and transported to cells where she is awaiting a bail hearing."
All told, according to police, westbound traffic was only blocked for about 10 minutes.
The protest was one of several in recent days and weeks in B.C., and according to those behind the efforts, "the frequency and scale of actions will escalate until all old-growth logging is stopped."
The protest was one of several in recent days and weeks in B.C., and according to those behind the efforts, "the frequency and scale of actions will escalate until all old-growth logging is stopped."
Weber said, "We'll end with a big bang on (Jan. 31)" then, after some time off, the group will "come back at you with even more" in March.
Organizers said in a news release ahead of the protest that the efforts are geared towards the provincial government.
"The government has an option to fulfill its election promises or send non-violent people on the motorways to jail," they wrote.
Wednesday's was not the first protest involving superglue. A similar tactic was used on another stretch of the Trans-Canada during a protest last week.
"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 keep their promise to save old growth," organizer Zain Haq said in a news release.
Several members were arrested during a similar demonstration in Victoria on Monday, and more were taken into custody last week in Vancouver and Nanaimo.
Over the weekend, the B.C. government announced a deal between Western Forest Products and four First Nations to defer logging of rare, ancient and priority old-growth trees across 25 square kilometres of land on Vancouver Island for the next two years.
The province has promised to defer logging on 2.6 million hectares of old-growth forest in total.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Jim Fong in West Vancouver, and Andrew Weichel
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Madonna says her kids' 'enthusiasm' kept her going while on tour after 'near death' hospitalization
As Madonna approaches her 80th show on her 'Celebration' tour, she took a moment to appreciate how much her six children have helped her get to this point after being hospitalized last year before the tour began.