A 71-year-old grandfather has scaled a tree at the Trans Mountain Pipeline’s Westridge Terminal to protest the planned expansion of the project.
“I'm doing it for the grandkids of the world,” Terry Christenson told the NOW by phone from his perch some 30 metres in the sky.
“My grandkids are going to be much more impacted than me as young adults and I feel it's my duty to help protect future generations from climate change.”
Christenson said he has a beautiful view of the North Shore mountains and Burrard Inlet from his hammock affixed to the tree trunk. He began his climb in the early morning after scaling a fence to reach the tree.
“I’m resting; that was a long climb but it’s a beautiful day,” he said.
This is not Christenson’s first time scaling a tree near a Trans Mountain facility. In March 2018, he climbed one near the Burnaby Mountain tank farm in a similar protest.
Christenson said he plans to remove a guard installed on the tree by Trans Mountain to prevent eagles from nesting. He also placed a piece of salmon on the tree to welcome the birds.
If eagles nest in the tree, the pipeline company won’t be able to cut it down, he explained.
Christenson, a Juno-nominated country singer and professional climber, said he plans to spend as much time as possible in the tree to send a message that opposition to the pipeline expansion won’t stop.
“I plan on staying here as long as I can,” he said.
He said only bad weather or police intervention will bring him down.
“If it gets to the point that it is going to endanger police, then I will have to compromise,” he said. “For me, it's a lot more scary thinking about climate change than it is doing some time in jail. In a sense, I feel like I'm giving back at my age.”
Christenson said he has been fasting since Sunday to ensure he doesn’t have to make bowel movements while in the tree. He said he will be drinking water and urinating in a bottle he plans to empty when no one is standing below him.
The protester said he wants to see Canada shift away from burning fossil fuels for energy.
He said he’s grateful for the polymer ropes made from oil that are keeping him safe in the tree. He wants Canada to lead the world in creating polymer products, rather than exporting oil as fuel.
His methods may be unconventional, but Christenson said he is safe as he relies on his experience as a professional climber.
“Crazy? Well, I have been called that a bit I guess, but my intentions are good.”
A Trans Mountain spokesperson said the company respects the public’s right to protest lawfully.
“As always, the safety of the community, workers and our pipeline system is Trans Mountain’s top priority and expressions of opinions about our project must respect the terms of the injunction that is currently in place to allow our employees and workers to safely go about their business,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.
According to the spokesperson, Trans Mountain worked with various government agencies to develop a plan to protect birds in its site. B.C.’s forestry ministry issued a permit to install the the nesting deterrent, the spokesperson said.
“A nesting deterrent (metal cone) was placed in the previously used nesting tree outside the migratory bird nesting window. The eagles were away on annual migration and the nest site was not in use when the deterrent was installed in the tree. Trans Mountain has no intention of removing the tree and the cone will be removed after construction.”
The Burnaby RCMP did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
