On Monday morning, a multi-faith direct action group were attempting to block a backhoe and pipeline construction at the Brunette River.
The group opposes destruction of this sensitive habitat for the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline.
Several people staged a prayer circle just south of Highway 1 on the border of Burnaby and New Westminster and Coquitlam.
In this river is the Nooksack dace, a small fish that has lived in these waters for over 5,000 years. The Nooksack dace is only found in four small water systems in B.C. with the Brunette the only one in Greater Vancouver. Protesters are concerned about TMX work's impact on fish and wildlife.
Work further west in Burnaby has been halted due to concerns about the impact of tree cutting on Anna's hummingbirds and other birds nesting in the area.
This prayer circle follows a rally on Saturday under the Port Mann Bridge as Trans Mountain prepares more work. According to Trans Mountain’s latest construction update filed with the regulator, drilling is scheduled to begin in this area, with a four-foot diameter borehole being drilled under the river at the Port Mann Bridge, emerging on the north side into Colony Farm, a Metro Vancouver regional park.
