WHALES IN BURRARD INLET

                5 species of whale frequent Burrard Inlet (Slielwat) throughout the year. With annual sightings of Grey whales and Orcas their occurrence here is more common than we might realize. Whales visit the inlet as a safe harbour along their migration routes to rest and feed on salmon.

SALMON HABITAT

                Watersheds that drain into Burrard inlet provide the perfect habitat for all 5 species of Salmon (Chinook, Coho, Chum, Pink and Sockeye) the main food source for many visiting whales including the Critically Endangered Orcas. Several such watersheds run off Burnaby Mountain and through SFUs Burnaby Campus. The survival of the salmon and the animals that depend on them relies on protecting and enhancing what remains of the Burrard inlet habitat through proactive conservation methods.

SFU AND TSLEIL’WAUTUTH SACRED TRUST

                The Tsleil-waututh (tslay-lull-tooth) are an unceeded coastal Salish First Peoples who have called Burrard Inlet home for more than 12,000 years. Oral histories and archaeological evidence show that for thousands of years the Tsleil-waututh successfully managed the ecosystem here in a sustainable manner. In recent history industrial developments in and around the inlet have contributed to a 90% loss of habitat. Despite this, efforts from the Tsleil-waututh people and local conservation groups continue to ensure annual spawns bring Salmon back to the inlet. The sacred Trust is a conservation initiative lead by the Tsleil-waututh to protect the inlet, and SFU is an official partner in the Sacred Trust.

PUBLIC SAFETY

                SFU has no comprehensive safety strategy for a fire at the TMX tank farm. There are 7000 people on the SFU university campus at any given time. The Burnaby Fire department has issued a public statement saying they will not endanger personnel in the event of a tank fire. The tank farm also borders a family community and an elementary school. Public safety has not been responsibly considered in the pipeline debate.

PRO WHALE NO TAR

                The biggest threat to Whales and salmon is a proposed new pipeline that will bring 300+ more oil supertankers into the inlet every year, drastically increasing the risk of bitumen spills on and off land that would destroy critical habitat. The Trans Mountain Pipeline is a proposed project that has been federally approved several times, however due to ongoing community outcry, constitutional issues and scientific evidence showing there is no way our endangered Orcas will survive the massive increase in traffic, the pipeline continues to be rejected.

Will you tell SFU and community lawmakers to make right on the Sacred Trust, stand up for the Whales, stand up for the safety of the People, and reject the Trans Mountain pipeline?