Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Mid-Island
Box 442, Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K lS9, ph. 250 752-6585, email: wcwcqb@nanaimo.ark.com

Wednesday, October 31, 2001
Press Release

Expansion of World-Famous MacMillan Park in Cathedral Grove Gaining Support from International, National and Local Communities

1,000 signatures from Tokyo, England, Korea, Finland, Germany, Holland, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, Wisconsin, Maine, Seattle, Abbotsford, Victoria, Courtenay, Port Alberni, Parksville, Qualicum Beach and other locations in British Columbia, Canada and the world, are keeping petition-gatherers busy in Cathedral Grove these days as the height of tourism season just seems to keep happening in the tiny park, rain or shine.

“British Columbians have even taken up Premier Gordon Campbell’s challenge to return their tax refunds,” comments Annette Tanner, chairperson of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee. “People are sending donations of their tax refunds to help stop Weyerhaeuser’s rapidly-moving plan to liquidate the last of Cathedral Grove’s giant Douglas firs. “

“Although 12 percent of British Columbia was set aside for protection, the East side of Vancouver Island from Campbell River to Sooke, where over 85% of the population live, has only 2 percent of the land in protection. Cathedral Grove is located in the heart of this 98% unprotected land base,” continues Tanner. “Access to Crown land for tourism, recreation and conservation on east Vancouver Island is not equal to the 12 percent that has been designated in the rest of the province.”

Tours in Cathedral Grove’s proposed new addition to MacMillan Park meet every
Sunday at 1:00 pm rain or shine in the MacMillan Park parking lot. Info: 758-7651 or 7l6-9292

Petitions to the Federal and Provincial Governments are located in Nanaimo at Green Communities in (Harbour Park Mall) and Strathcona Outrigger (between Woodgrove Mall and Petcetera off Old Island Hwy.)
- for further information call Annette Tanner 250 752-6585