The federal government hosted its regular Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) conference in Vancouver on February 22 and 23rd. Canada’s OPP is a broad cross ministry, industry and government initiative aimed at growing Canada’s economy and supporting job growth, protecting coastal environments and advancing reconciliation with indigenous communities. More recently it has focused on supply chain disruptions. At the conference the … Read More
Thank you to Chris Straw
GAFA members met recently for the first time after Chris Straw’s sudden death. The Zoom meeting began with quiet greetings, all of us knowing how deeply the tragedy of Chris’ passing has impacted everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. At first, no one knew quite how to talk about Chris and the deep loss we felt. Then one … Read More
Send a letter to the federal government using the The No Freighter Anchorages website
The conversation around freighter anchorages in the Southern Gulf Islands is getting more attention. Recent coverage from CBC and attention from local politicians and celebrities has led to a rise in interest and letters submitted but we need your voice. The No Freighter Anchorages website features an easy way to tell the federal ministers who are responsible to put the … Read More
South Coast Ship Watch Alliance Launches New Website and Social Media About Anchorages
The voices of community groups alarmed with the onslaught of bulk cargo ships anchoring throughout the Southern Gulf Islands just got louder. The South Coast Ship Watch Alliance includes Gabriolans Against Freighter Anchorages society (GAFA) and other groups from Cowichan Bay, Ladysmith, Thetis Island and Plumper Sound, which lies between Mayne, Saturna and Pender Islands. They plan to use a … Read More
GAFA Hoping to Take Anchorage Fight to New Levels
It’s hard to believe but it was exactly 4 years ago this week that Gabriolans learned, through the Sounder, about the plan for five freighter anchorages along the NE shores of Gabriola. The joint industry and government proposal was to allow bulk cargo freighters up to 300 metres long to anchor in the lee of the Island while waiting to load coal or grain in the Port of Vancouver. Thanks in large part to push back from Gabriola residents those anchorages have not yet been established. Unfortunately, … Read More
Getting freighters out of the Gulf Islands.
Join GAFA on Saturday March 23rd from 2-4pm at the Community Hall for an update.
Cancelled Coal Project Not The End of Gabriola Anchorage Threat
Cancellation of a proposed $15 million coal transfer facility in the mouth of the Fraser River was met with cautious optimism by Gabriola residents. But the shutdown doesn’t remove the threat of 5 proposed freighter anchorages off Gabriola’s NE coast. On January 30th, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority withdrew a permit for Fraser Surrey Docks to expandVancouver’s capacity to load U.S. thermal coal onto freighters bound for Asian markets. The project was cancelled after Fraser Surrey Docks failed to show substantial progress on a number of … Read More
Chris Straw’s Opening Remarks to the Standing Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities
CHRIS STRAW’S PRESENTATION TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES October 18, 2018 Thank you Madame Chair and members of the committee. I represent a group of residents of Gabriola Island, near Nanaimo, British Columbia. My comments today reflect not only the concerns of my community, but also those of other community groups in the South Coast Region … Read More
Media Release: Gulf Island advocacy group to discuss freighter anchorage concerns before Parliamentary Committee this week.
Media Release October 16, 2018 Gabriola Island BC Gulf Island advocacy group to discuss freighter anchorage concerns before Parliamentary Committee this week. The President of Gabriolans Against Freighter Anchorages, Chris Straw, will appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Communities and Infrastructure in Ottawa on Thursday Oct 18th. His presentation will call on the committee to examine … Read More
As our fight to stop freighter anchorage in the SGI continues, it’s never a bad idea to write a letter to elected officials. Case in point:
To Hon. Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport Cc: Hon. Sheila Malcolmson, MP, Nanaimo-Ladysmith; Vancouver Fraser Port Authority; Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee August 14th, 2018 Dear Mr. Garneau: Re: Freighter Anchorage-Pylades Channel, South Coast British Columbia My husband and I just spent from August 8th to 12th at our family property located on the south east end of Gabriola Island. … Read More
Gabriolans Against Freighter Anchorages Presents The Film Sonic Sea: Sounding the Alarm on Ocean Noise
(Media Release from Natural Resources Defense Council) Beneath the surface of our oceans lies a finely balanced, living world of sound, most of which we never hear topside. But to whales, dolphins and other marine life, sound is survival, the key to how they navigate, find mates, hunt for food, communicate over vast distances and protect themselves against predators in … Read More
GAFA presents Sonic Sea, May 16th
Join GAFA for a screening of Sonic Sea on May 16th at 7pm. Professor Ross Chapman will answer questions on underwater acoustics. MAY 16 / DOORS OPEN AT 7PM THE ROXY, GABRIOLA ENTRANCE & REFRESHMENTS BY DONATION Sonic Sea is a 60-minute documentary about the impact of industrial and military noise on whales and other marine life. It tells the … Read More
