Day One: Coastal Connections Tour with David Suzuki Nanaimo, B.C. Reflections from the West Coast

Credit: Janice Williams

The month of June is usually a time when British Columbians are looking forward to drier weather and sunshine brings us outdoors. This past month, however, was alarmingly dry. When we started our Coastal Connections Tour with David Suzuki in Nanaimo on June 1, the coastal city had just gone through the third driest May in over 100 years. It was an apt, yet disturbing, start to our 12-day tour of Vancouver Island and the central and north coasts of British Columbia to talk about oceans and climate change.

The sold-out event started with a welcome from Chief John Wesley of the Snuneymuxw First Nation who talked about the changes he's seen in the rivers over the past thirty years. He worries about how the next generation will learn to fillet and prepare fish if there are none to catch.

The Departure Bay Eco School followed with their "Trash to Treasure" display featuring materials from a beach clean-up transformed into an art and science display. The grade 5 and 6 students demonstrated how today's actions will impact their future.



The theatre darkened and the audience of 550 bore witness to the world premiere of Ian Mauro's 30-minute film on climate change and coastal people and ecosystems. Then it was the audience's turn to tell their stories and share ideas about how coastal communities can confront weighty topics such as climate change, ocean acidification and environmental degradation.



We heard about amazing relationships people had with nature, inspiring thoughts as well as expressions of despair and hope. Stay tuned for more reflections as the tour continues. Once the tour is finished, we will share what we hear with you, the communities we visit, and local, national and international decision-makers.

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