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<\/p>\nAlmost 100 people came to the screening for Before they Fall on February 23. It was a wonderful turnout for a film that documented the protests to protect the old growth ancient forests at Fairy Creek. Our press release and Panel Discussion video are below.<\/p>\n
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Press Release<\/p>\n
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n Fairy Creek Old Growth Demonstrations Were No Fairy Tale<\/strong><\/p>\n Peachland BC<\/strong>: The evening of February 23 was a remarkable night in Peachland.\u00a0 A \u201csold out\u201d attendance of over 90 people attended a screening of acclaimed documentary about the Fairy Creek old growth demonstrations, Before They Fall, <\/em><\/strong>sponsored by the Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance (PWPA).<\/p>\n The topic was ancient BC forests, and focussed on the Fairy Creek protests against logging this last unprotected, intact valley on southern Vancouver Island, on unceded Pacheedaht Territory.\u00a0Individuals from the ancestral homelands of the Ma\u2019amtagila, Pacheedaht, Ditidaht, Songhees and Esquimalt Peoples spoke of their identification with ancient forests and how their cultures are at one with the land.<\/p>\n Ravaged landscapes following clearcuts were interspersed with scenes of lush west coast rainforests.\u00a0 The compelling clip of an indigenous elder confronting a flank of grim RCMP officers clearly captures the depth of the conflict. \u00a0Peachland resident and PWPA member Judy Wyper says \u201cWhat I found so captivating was the elder\u2019s patient determination and deliberate choice of wording.\u201d The film also depicts the protests at the BC legislature, speeches on the steps, people marching and drumming through the forest, others being dragged away by police, often with stunning brutality.<\/p>\n TJ Watt, Dr. Suzanne Simard, Rande Cook, Rainbow Eyes, and Land Defenders at Fairy Creek\u00a0are featured, and each gives dimension to the issues of protection of the land, the need to preserve ancient ecosystems and biodiversity, and the cultural value of these places. The film was produced by Ecologyst, an independent film production company based in Victoria, BC.<\/p>\n After the film there was a question and answer panel with guests Cori Derrickson (Syilx Environmentalist, Artist), Genevieve Daniel (Old Growth Okanagan), Dave Gill ( Forestry Manager, Ntityx Resources, WFN), with Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance\u2019s Taryn Skalbania as Moderator.<\/p>\n PWPA has also obtained film rights to The Memory of Fish, <\/em><\/strong>an award-winning documentary \u00a0\u00a0of one man, the wild salmon he loves, and his fight to free a river. The public is invited to attend the screening on March 23 from 7:00 \u2013 9:00 pm at the Peachland 50+ Centre, 5672 Beach Ave, Peachland, Doors at 6:30, admission by donation.\u00a0 peachlandwpa.org<\/a><\/p>\n