http://www.mychilliwacknews.com/blog/view/27902/1Chilliwack, B.C – The Salmon Feedlot Boycott here in Chilliwack seems to be making ground with local companies regarding the type of salmon sold on its shelves or put on its menu’s.
Thursday afternoon saw the boycott at the Bravo Restaurant, not for the purpose of informing consumers of how bad the salmon was being sold, but instead to honor the restaurant for its pledge to only use local produce, environmentally sustainable products, and wild salmon.
Overwaitea Food Group has also decided to red-list open net farmed fish, instead stocking its shelves with the preferred wild salmon or salmon from land based closed containment feedlots. The decision to carry only wild salmon or salmon from closed containment feedlots was directed by David Suzuki, who supports the Salmon Feedlot Boycott movement.
This is tremendous support when you consider the Overwaitea Food Group is Western Canada’s largest food store chain, including PriceSmart, Save On Foods, Overwaitea Foods, Cooper’s Foods, Urban Fare and Bulkley Valley Wholesale serving communities in both B.C and Alberta.
Louie De Jaeger of Bravo restaurant here in Chilliwack has championed the cause of using environmentally stable products at their restaurant for a long time.
“Bravo decided in 2004 took the conscious decision that we were going to help serve sustainable food,” De Jaeger informs. “And if we were going to take part in anything wild it was going to be ethical.”
De Jaeger believes that those who are using the feedlots, spreading disease to wild salmon, are destroying what resource we are lucky to have out here.
De Jaeger also believes that the next step for those taking up the boycott’s cause need to rally against the suppliers. If the suppliers stop purchasing from those companies that sell feedlot salmon, the industry would have to change and government would take notice. As of right now he is a little disappointed that the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon MP Mark Strahl isn’t visible around this worthwhile cause.
“He should be at meetings like this, he should be sending letters of support,” De Jaeger says. “What we’ve heard is absolutely nothing – nothing from him and nothing from this government. They’re part of the problem; they are not part of the solution whatsoever.”
De Jaeger’s had strong sentiments for the local and provincial government, echoing Eddie Gardiner’s idea in urging the people of Chilliwack to back a candidate in the upcoming election that will be a champion for this cause and environmental sustainability as a whole.
Eddie Gardiner of the Salmon Feedlot Boycott presented Louie De Jaeger with a certificate and a window decal in recognition of Bravo Restaurant’s business leadership in supporting environmental sustainability. De Jaeger was honored with the award, echoing once again how important it is to use sustainable products from ethical sources.
With the provincial election two-months away, the theme of these gatherings has turned to making their position known to potential incoming politicians.
Rex Weyler, who has served as a Director of the original Greenpeace, was on hand to support the cause he has been behind for many decades. He made note to the problem that continually causes environmentalists anxiety.
“The people that are elected, that are supposed to be working for us, as Louis said, the people that are supposed to be working for us, that we’ve elected, that we are paying with our tax dollars are instead of looking after us and our interests and the interests of our children and the future and our environment and our ecosystem, they are looking after and serving the interests of the largest corporations on the planet,” Weyler says.
Weyler went on to say to the 20 or so people in attendance that in all of his experience the only thing that has every stood in front of this ecological destruction is the people. He maintained that change will come if you keep fighting for change to save the communities that could potentially be destroyed if the status quo remains.
The Salmon Feedlot Boycott is going to continue honoring those businesses that are using environmentally sustainable products, with the next honoree being Jacksons Steak & Grill House. The boycott will also be celebrating Canada Water Week, along with the WaterWealth Project.
The first event takes place Monday, March 18th at 6:30 p.m. with a screening of “Salmon Confidential” at the WaterWealth Project Office, 45668 Storey Avenue in Chilliwack.
Author
Topic: National Boycott Of Open Pen Feedlot Salmon Rally in Chilliwack (Read 60453 times)