About BROKE

Through education, advocacy, and partnership, our goal is to prevent the expansion of the Trans Mountain (was Kinder Morgan) Pipeline and related infrastructure in Burnaby, and related supertanker traffic in Burrard Inlet.

Join our mailing list at http://eepurl.com/vyBhv or contact us at info@brokepipelinewatch.ca 

BROKE is a group of local residents with this mission:

• To prevent the expansion of the Trans Mountain (was Kinder Morgan) Pipeline, and related infrastructure in Burnaby, and related supertanker traffic, through education, advocacy and partnership;
• To oppose the degradation of our city, our neighbourhoods, and the natural habitat, that an oil pipeline and related industrialization of Burrard Inlet would bring;
• To raise awareness of Burnaby residents about how the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion and increased tanker traffic would impact our community and local environment;
• To promote a clean and sustainable energy future.

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Some for the things BROKE members love to do:

  • Monthly meetings to plan, collaborate and connect (currently virtual).
  • Building relationships. Alliance and relationship building with First Nations, faith groups, ENGOs, City of Burnaby, MLAs, MPs, media reps. Earning attention and respect from officials and policymakers, and lobbying the same.
  • Hosting BROKE info tables at many events including Hats Off Day, Environment Week, the Burnaby Farmers Market.
  • Hosting film screenings, organizing and attending marches and rallies, writing Letters to the Editor, drafting and distributing Press Releases, sending emails, leafleting and talking to people in our neighbourhoods. 
  • Writing and acting in creative productions related to pipeline opposition. 
  • Supporting arrestees and those taking direct action. Court support. Taking direct action, and unfortunately even occasionally getting arrested through conscientious non-violent civil disobedience (the arrest part is not technically something we love).

BROKEs accomplishments include:

  • November 19, 2020 – initiated an online conference call between BROKE core members (and supporters) and incoming SFU President Joy Johnson.  This was deflected to SFU Veep Martin Pochurko and SFU Chief Safety Officer Mark LaLonde. We want the university administration to strongly oppose TMX due to increased fire/boilover/toxic smoke dangers to the university community and Forest Grove Elementary School.
  • 2020 – Lobbyied MLA’s, Min. of Env., Min. of Public Safety, Emergency Management B.C., SFU Presidents Andrew Petter and Joy Johnson, and Vice President Martin Pochurko regarding the extreme danger of hundreds of deaths from an earthquake induced fire at the TM Tank Farm/Burnaby Terminal. (on-going)
  • May 11, 2020 – initiated an online conference call between six BROKE core members and George Heyman, BC Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (and staff), stressing fire/explosion dangers and lax COVID-19 safety practices at the Trans Mountain Burnaby Terminal (tank farm) on Burnaby Mountain. MLAs Katrina Chen and Janet Routledge were present, along with Burnaby Deputy Fire Chief Chris Bowcock.
  • October 4, 2019, organized All Candidates Meeting for Burnaby-North Seymour Federal election, at Confederation Seniors Centre.
  • October 23, 2018, co-organized a “Die-In” near Production Way SkyTrain station next to then federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale’s office, to highlight deadly consequences of a tank farm or pipeline spill disaster. 
  • On September 8, 2018, in alliance with Protect the Inlet and as part of the “Rise for Climate International Day of Action”, hosted the “Suffering Salmon: Climate Change and Pipeline” event at the soccer field near the Watchhouse, including speakers, presentations, activities, music and a half-hour compilation of four salmon-related video clips.
  • May 16, 2018, co-organized ‘Mass Die-In’ at gates of Kinder Morgan Burnaby Terminal, to highlight risks of tank farm expansion. One BROKE core member was among four arrested.
  • March 23, 2018:  BROKE members (including one arrested) participated in rally at the gates of Burnaby Terminal tank farm — alongside federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May, and Burnaby South MP Kennedy Stewart.
  • March 23, 2018, organized a rally at MP Terry Beech’s office in Burnaby to demand federal action on protecting water, climate and Indigenous rights from Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX).
  • May 28, 2017, organized the “Fossil Fuel Freedom Fest” at Westridge Park, which was the finale of the “Walk 4 the Salish Sea!” from Victoria to Burnaby.
  • Sept 21 & 28, 2016 – Mobilized 200+ to hear in-depth reports at two Town Halls: Audrey Siegl, Seth Klein, Fire Chief Chris Bowcock, Indigenous and Youth speakers
  • May 16, 2016, received two City of Burnaby 2016 Environmental Awards for Community Stewardship: one to BROKE as a whole and one to BROKE founder and continuing activist Ruth Walmsley.
  • Mobilized participants in the May 14, 2016 “Break Free from Fossil Fuels” rally, initiated by 350.org on land and sea around the Kinder Morgan Westridge Marine Terminal.
  • August 9-11 2016 – BROKE presented at The Ministerial Panel for Trans Mountain Expansion Project to express concerns regarding the Kinder Morgan Pipeline Expansion (TMX). 
  • Involved in the January 2016 protests outside the National Energy Board (NEB) hearings in Burnaby, demanding newly elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau honour his promise to re-start the federal assessment process for Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX)’
  • BROKE was an intervenor in the NEB hearings on the proposed Kinder Morgan expansion, submitting expert evidence on earthquake-related and human health dangers inherent in the project.
  • Hosted a federal all-candidates meeting on September 15, 2015, focused on candidates’ positions on Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX), attended by over 300 people.
  • Held a Town Hall at Forest Grove School on May 20, 2015, with Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan,  Deputy Fire Chief Chris Bowcock, and Science Professor Angela Brooks-Wilson on safety issues with nearby Kinder Morgan tank farm, attended by over 200 people.
  • Involved in the November 2014 “Battle of Burnaby Mountain,” protesting test drilling to prepare for pipeline tunnels through the mountain. Three BROKE core group members were among dozens arrested.
  • Held a rally on Burnaby Mountain September 13, 2014, addressed by Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and Kennedy Stewart, NDP MP for North Burnaby.
  • Organized a major “People’s Procession & Rally” on April 12, 2014, to raise community awareness and voice opposition to Kinder Morgan’s plans (Burnaby Now youtube video:     Burnaby People’s Procession against Kinder Morgan pipeline.)
  • Held a Town Hall at Cameron School on March 4, 2014, attended by 250 people, co-sponsored with Forest Ethics Advocacy;
  • Held a rally on July 24, 2013, to commemorate the 6th anniversary of Kinder Morgan’s 2007 oil spill in Burnaby’s Westridge neighbourhood.
  • Hosted a provincial all-candidates meeting on April 28, 2013, focused on the environmental concerns of Burnaby residents, co-sponsored with the Civic Association of Iranian Canadians and the Capitol Hill Hall Association.
  • Hosted a talk by economist Robyn Allan on “The Economics of Oil Pipelines and Tankers,” March 27, 2013, attended by 242 people, co-sponsored with SFU Centre for the Humanities, Environment Committee of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver and Forest Ethics Advocacy.
  • March 2013 – Lobbied the Burnaby parent-teachers’ association and the BCTF on pipeline and tank farm safety resulting in Resolutions to develop health and safety plans for oil spills and to require gas leak monitoring along old pipelines adjacent to schools across the province. 
  • Screened the movie White Water Black Gold at Capitol Hill Hall on January 18, 2013, attended by 125 people, followed by a talk by the film-maker David Lavalee;
  • November 24, 2012: BROKE co-arranged a rally of dozens of people at the Coquitlam Executive Inn, site of a Kinder Morgan open house — addressed by MP Kennedy Stewart, and Bob Chamberlin of Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and others
  • Launched BROKE by hosting a Town Hall at Confederation Centre on October 10, 2012, attended by 250 people, and raising enough money to get the ball rolling.