BC Election Action Toolkit for Old Growth

With the BC election quickly approaching this October, now is the perfect opportunity to ramp up public pressure, and make sure promises translate to real action on old growth, Indigenous rights, climate and community safety. We know that organizing for lasting change must go beyond electoral cycles and we also know that every candidate is focused on votes right now. So, let’s remind them how many voters care about this issue.

What you can do as an individual

Contact your candidates and/or show up at their BC election campaign events and offices to ask them pointed questions about old growth. 

Speaking from your personal concerns and how this issue impacts your community is always the most powerful so we encourage you to craft your own questions. If you’re looking for inspiration, you can check out the list of more general questions that Wilderness Committee published here.

• Send a letter to your local candidates to learn where they stand on defending forests and the climate.
• Sample questions to ask BC election candidates on old growth.

What you can do with a couple people: bird-dogging

‘Bird-doggers’ confront politicians in a public setting, like a fundraising event, meet-and-greet or press conference, and put them on the spot to answer pointed questions that they either are forced to respond or neglect. You need at least two people – one to ask the question and one to film.

You can find out where your candidates will be by:

• Search party / candidate websites
• Sign-up for their email newsletter
• Follow them on social media
• Call their campaign office to ask about upcoming public events

What you can do as a group: demonstrations

If your candidates don’t give you time, you can show up at their campaign offices or other campaign events in numbers to demonstrate your collective power! It’s most effective to show up during campaign office hours when staff are working with visuals, speakers and flyers to hand out to the public. 

What you can do as a group: get in the way

From blocking roads in urban areas to industry in the forest, many groups have disrupted the status quo with their own bodies. At this time of cascading crises, civil disobedience is a necessary and effective tactic – if colonial governments won’t stop the destruction, we are left with no choice. That being said, this can come at a high cost for those who participate so careful planning is key to mitigating the impacts. 

It is crucial that if you choose this path you follow Indigenous leadership by practicing free, prior and informed consent, and local protocol. As well as having training in anti-oppression and anti-racism, community safety and non-violent direct action, including an experienced police liaison on your team. This is a non-exhaustive list, but a few important pieces to underscore. 

What you can do as a group: creative actions

Use your imagination to get this issue back in the public eye. From a dance performance on the B.C. legislature lawn to banner drops in high density transit areas to film screenings and talks to intersection actions to bringing large stumps of fallen trees into the city – there is no shortage of what’s possible.

Amplify your actions

Getting your actions and events seen as far and wide as possible will maximize impact! 

You can contact local media with a media advisory to invite them out to cover your initiatives, and additionally send out a press release with a description of your action, quotes from local spokespeople, your demands and the contact information for your spokespeople if media want to follow up with interviews. You can find templates for media advisories and press releases on Google. In addition, make sure to take photos and film vertically (for reels) to share on social media! And tag Stand.earth or send the posts to us so we can amplify on platforms: desiree@stand.earth

Calendar of events and actions

People are already mobilizing around the province ahead of the BC election to send a strong message to every party and candidate. You can find events and actions already planned near you here that you can connect to.

Reach out

If you have questions or want to let us know about something you’re organizing, send an email to: desiree@stand.earth