A group of pipeline opponents staged a tongue-in-cheek protest at Kinder Morgan's tank farm, participating in the same activity that triggered a recent police investigation of an SFU professor.
On Friday morning, about two dozen people met at Kinder Morgan's tank farm to have their photos taken with the sign SFU professor Tim Takaro photographed in early March. After Takaro snapped his picture, Kinder Morgan called police, setting off an RCMP investigation, but no charges were laid.
Friday's protest involved selfies and group shots with the same sign that landed Takaro in trouble.
"We kind of joked that it was a workshop, and we had a serious discussion about Bill C-51, and we had a lot of laughs," said Burnaby resident John Preissl, a Burnaby streamkeeper who's concerned about the pipeline, the NEB process and the environment.
"It was really good. It was a very positive energy."
According to Preissl, the group stayed for a couple of hours taking a photos with the sign, but this time, Kinder Morgan's security staff simply closed the blinds in the booth by the entrance gate.
The Friday protest was in support of New Westminster residents Takaro and Lesslie Askin, a retired systems analyst who was also under investigation for taking photo close to the tank farm. Both are participants in the National Energy Board's hearing for the proposed pipeline and tank farm expansion.
Takaro appreciated the gesture.
"I think it's great that people are expressing their ability to freely take photos on public land, and I would also say I hope this bring attention to the issues about human health risk from the tank farm being right there in the community, and in particular, I hope people will ask that the Burnaby emergency preparedness office see all of the plans Kinder Morgan has for a response to a tank farm fire," Takaro said. "I think the long-term (question) is what kind of neighbour is Kinder Morgan? What is the relationship with the RCMP?"
Andy Galarnyk of Kinder Morgan Canada said the company has no problem with people taking near the facility if they are open about their intent.
"Our security guards often see people take photos, and in 99 per cent of the cases, these occurrences do not get reported to the local police," he said in an emailed statement. "We have been part of this community safely operating our Burnaby terminal for over 60 years, and we work diligently to be a good neighbour, while ensuring safety and security of our facility and the surrounding community."
The Trans Mountain pipeline, marine terminal and tank farm were built in the 1950s, but Kinder Morgan didn't buy the system until 2005, so the company has actually been operating in the community for only 10 years.
