Hudson’s Hope residents protest drinking water during BC Hydro executives’ visit

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – In the early hours of the morning on September 25th, residents of Hudson’s Hope gathered to voice their concerns for the future of clean drinking water.

Residents, young and old, gathered with handmade signs and coffee at 7 a.m. on Canyon Drive near Williston Lake, just west of Hudson’s Hope. 

The gathering was planned to intercept two BC Hydro executives, Richard Brittin, Director of Station Field Operations, and Charlotte Mitha, Executive Vice President of Operations, on their way to a meeting with GMS BC Hydro workers in the district. 

Hayden Huxley, a Hudson’s Hope resident, explained that the gathering was not intended to interrupt or impede the executives’ travels or the meeting but was instead planned to showcase the thoughts and opinions of residents impacted by the ongoing drinking water challenges. 

Both the meeting and resident gathering were initially planned for September 24th, but when the meeting was rescheduled to the 25th, the residents also adjusted their schedule. 

This change resulted in both events occurring on the first day of early voting for the district’s vote to borrow almost $5 million for the construction of a new permanent water treatment facility. 

Many of the residents present at the roadside gathering expressed their frustrations regarding the situation and stated they intended to vote “no.”

Following the roadside gathering, attendees erected their signs on a piece of private land on Beattie Drive and Canyon Drive in Hudson’s Hope, where they will remain for the next several days.