News
After appeals to the Sunshine Coast Community Forest (SCCF) and the Sechelt Mayor and Council, Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF)and other community members and organizations gathered for a peaceful protest to stop the logging of the Wilson Creek Forest on Wednesday, November 28.
ELF had gathered contributions of $15,000 to offer to the District of Sechelt to offset their loss of dividends from logging. It was not accepted. "The Mayor could have had his dividend and saved this forest," said ELF organizer Ross Murihead. "Instead, he choose to divide the community. In 2 years time he may wake up and wished he had made a more reasonable decision. Well residents of Sechelt, next election is your time to make your position known."
ELF released the following statement:
"It's with heavy hearts that we inform the community that Sunshine Coast Community Forests (SCCF), with the direct support of the Sechelt Mayor and Council, today have brought fallers into the Wilson Creek Forest to begin logging.
At 8 am on Tuesday, November 27, 8 RCMP and SCCF Operations Manager Dave Lasser and a crew of loggers showed up at Peace Camp 2. They told the campers they have 15 mins. to leave or they would be arrested. Lasser had to re-serve the Injunction himself because SCCF could not hire any local 'servers'. All court document servers refused to take on this work because they support the protection of this forest.
November 27
Dave Lasser of the SCCF at the camp.
Biodiversity plaques posted by ELF were removed by SCCF.
Roadblock by SCCF.Falling has started on the west side of the forest near the creek. We could hear the big trees coming down, boom - a sound that rips into your heart.
We cannot sit back and let Community Forest destroy The Wilson Creek Forest without a little push back.
To that end, we request that the community to come out on Wednesday, November 28 at 6:30 am and be on the road to meet and greet the loggers. They will then call the local RCMP who will then drive up and talk to residents and make sure the peace is kept.
We can have discussions and eventually the police will make a request for us to leave. At that point, a choice will have to made by each individual. Elphinstone Logging Focus does not support anty type of illegal action, so we will advice our supporters to leave peacefully, and will suggest to anyone that they not break the Injunction. However, we are not responsible for others making their decisions.
Our position is to be hard on the issues, and respectul of all people. "
Early in the morning protesters assembled on the east Wilson Creek forest road.
November 28
Rick O'Neil addresses the group. 
Gayle Neilson of the SCCA makes a plea to save the forest.
SCCF Operations Manager Dave Lasser reads injunction. 
RCMP informs protesters they will have to leave the area.Logging of the east Wilson Creek cutblock EW002 was deferred in May of 2011 in response to community concerns. The deferral was made in order to undertake an updated review of the area including a Coastal Watershed Assessment Procedure (CWAP) or equivalent hydrological survey.
The SCCF issued the following statement in early this month:
“After careful review of extensive research on this area, Sechelt Community Projects Inc. (SCPI) is more than satisfied that harvesting in this particular zone allows us to maintain a healthy forest environment on the Sunshine Coast,” says Glen Bonderud, Chair of SCCF. “It’s evident from the findings of the Wilson Creek watershed assessment that, by maintaining good riparian zones, the Wilson Creek watershed is at very low risk of increased peak flows occurring due to harvesting activities.
The projected harvest area is within a 27.5 ha designated harvesting area. After a thorough assessment of the land, SCCF plans to harvest less than 15 ha, leaving areas for retention purposes, including a wildlife tree retention area as well as five to six retention zones. In addition, two large old growth management areas (OGMA) will remain immediately adjacent to the east (10.1 ha) and west (9.8 ha) boundaries of the block."
SCPI, is a subsidiary of the District of Sechelt, and operates the Sunshine Coast Community Forest under a 25 year renewable tenure from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, with a mandate to maintain a healthy, sustainable forest for future generations.