Most Canadians are familiar with at least some of the controversy that swirls endlessly throughout coastal British Columbia. Whether it’s the threat that fish farms pose to wild salmon, the cumulative impacts of run of river hydro projects, or the drying up of coastal communities as mills close, BC seems to hit the news for all the wrong reasons.

 
Those of us that choose to live here are acutely aware of threats to the environmental integrity of our coast, and of the conflict that surrounds each one. Each of us, I believe caves somewhat to the temptation of “educating” guests to our view of the crises facing the coast. When you feel passionate about an area, it’s far too easy to view visitors with little knowledge of local politics as a blank slate upon which we are free to write our viewpoint.

What we may have forgotten is that right and wrong are about as scarce in this province as the Vancouver Island Marmot. That coastal British Columbia is a convoluted mix of unemployed fishermen, families scraping by on employment insurance, land claims, log exports and fish farm legal battles. Discerning issues as black or white is about as easy as finding a job in Gold River.   

Perhaps what we as outdoor leaders need to realize is that we have a unique opportunity to transport you past the flapping tongues and headlines. On our kayak trips, we are fortunate enough to paddle through wilderness areas that are very much the same as they were a thousand years ago. We also see that – like all places - British Columbia is a mosaic. That along with rugged beauty are poorly managed clear-cuts, fish farms, degraded salmon streams.

We can do our best to guide you through it, explain policy and politics cause and effect. Sometimes though it’s best to pipe down, and let the place speak for itself.