David Suzuki to speak at 7th annual Paddle for the Peace

The Paddle will start from the Halfway River Bridge, located halfway between Hudson’s Hope and Fort St. John on Highway 29.

Registration for the event will take place the day of between 9 and 11 a.m. with the official event launch taking place between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Organizers are asking that anyone interested provide their own canoe, and must register before their canoe takes to the water.

Along with a fun filled ride down the Peace River, the event will also feature a guest speaker, environmental activist David Suzuki. Suzuki, who opposes Site C, will be speaking at the Bear Flat, the end location to the Paddle.

Following Suzuki’s speech, there will be an open mic session for anyone to sing as a barbeque is held by the Halfway River First Nations.

Food will also be provided before the Paddle begins, as the West Moberly First Nations will be holding a pancake breakfast at the launch site of the Paddle.

Both eating events will be free of charge for those taking to the water.

Danielle Yeoman, a coordinator for Paddle for the Peace, say the important event's intentions have changed over the years.

"We need to get out an enjoy the river and this event is a great opportunity, it’s a great way to introduce people to the Peace River, as well as take advantage of the beauty we have in the Peace Region," she says. "The event started out as a celebration to use the river for a fun, family event, but after flooding issues started to surface three to four years ago because of Site C, the focus of the event now is to show how we want the river to not be washed out."

Yeoman added, "we need to be using the valley and not flooding it."

There is no limit to the amount of people who can participate in the Paddle for the Peace, so if interested, just show up at the launch location between 9 and 11 a.m. the day of the event.