It's the second time the paddle been held on the Lower Mainland, but in the Peace Country, it's into its 12th year

Paddle for the Peace sees paddlers take to the waters between Granville Island and Vanier Park protesting the Site C dam

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1103) – The fight against the controversial Site C dam project hits close to home today.

The “Paddle for the Peace” event is on this afternoon at Vanier Park, to show solidarity with Treaty 8 First Nations and farmers who stand to lose their land to the $9 billion dam.

This is the second time the demonstration has been held on the Lower Mainland, but up in the Peace Country, the paddle is into its 12th year.

Organizer Caroline Brown says she’s hopeful the new NDP-Green government in Victoria can stop the Site C project before it happens.

“I know that the NDP want to put the Site C dam through the BC Utilities Commission and I know [BC Green Party leader] Andrew Weaver wants to stop the dam altogether,” she says.

Brown says the issue is quickly drawing international attention.

“You know, this has blown up. The New York Times has done a piece on us now, the Guardian has done a piece and people actually know about the Site C dam and it was a total non-issue and now we made it, the last year, into an election issue.”

The event will see paddlers take to the waters between Granville Island and Vanier Park.

“Paddle for the Peace” happens from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Vanier Park.