FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Protesters are defying an eviction notice from BC Hydro as the utility presses ahead with land clearing around the Site C hydroelectric project along the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia.
The notice was issued Dec. 31, giving demonstrators 24 hours to leave the Rocky Mountain Fort area on the south bank of the river, just a few kilometres south of Fort St. John.
A Peace River Valley resident who attended the encampment over the weekend says contractors appear ready to start logging a three-kilometre region — possibly as early as this week.
Verena Hofmann says protesters believe BC Hydro has no right to force them off the land in the midst of ongoing court cases, noting the territory belongs to area First Nations.
Rocky Mountain Fort was established as a fur trading post in 1794 and is the site of the earliest settler post in mainland B.C., but it will be destroyed by flooding as a huge lake is created behind the $9-billion dam.
Hydro announced in December that a consortium of three companies will be paid about $1.75 billion to build the largest components of the Site C development over the next eight years.
