The Gitga'at First Nation led the No To Tankers Rally in Prince Rupert, BC, February 4, 2012.

 (Cross posted from my Northwest Coast Energy News site)

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A crowd estimated by the media at high of more than 2,000 to a low of about 600, marched through the streets of Prince Rupert on Saturday, February 4, to protest against Enbridge’s $5.5-billion Northern Gateway bitumen pipeline and the associated super tanker traffic.

The protest was organized by the Gitga’at First Nation, of Hartley Bay, at the mouth of Douglas Channel . Nearby Wright Sound, known for its tricky currents and winds in bad weather would be the passageway for most of the tanker.

The Tsimshian First Nation, the hosts, welcomed the Gitga’at and protestors from other First Nations and reisdents of northwestern BC, before the the march began at Pacific Marinter’s Memorial Park.

It ended at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre, where, iin the afternoon, speakers spoke about environmental concerns, followed by a dancing and concert in the evening.

Gitga’at boats from Hartley Bay rescued passengers after the sinking of the ferry Queen of the North in 2006.

The Gitga’at say oil still leaks from the Queen of the North, affecting some shellfish beds in the area.

The Skeena is known is as the “Misty River.” In the language of the Tshimshian First Nation, the river is the “K-shian,” the river of mists.

On that Friday,a high pressure system was driving off the gloomy winter overcast that had lingered since December, while along banks, the mists still clung to the river banks and hills,  As the sun set, the light was magnificent,  The problem especially with all the snow piled up along the edge of the highway there were few safe places to stop and shoot except the designated rest areas.

The sun sets at the Basalt Creek rest area.

A little earlier, the sunset begins at the Telegraph Point rest area.

The reverse angle, away from the sun set, shows the mist hugging the mountains along the Skeena at Basalt Creek.

Sea smoke rises over the Kitimat, BC, harbour on Jan 19, 2012. (Robin Rowland)

Thursday January 19, 2012 was a frigid day in Kitimat, BC. It was -23 C with a windchill of -38. The warm fresh water from the Kitimat River, flowing into the harbour, was caught between the cold ocean water in the harbour and the frigid air, creating the sea smoke.

Sea smoke blankets Kitimat harbour on a frigid Jan, 19, 2012 (Robin Rowland)

Sea smoke usually hugs the surface of the water. On the morning of January 19, the wind caught the sea smoke, sending columns high into the air.

Columns of sea smoke rise from Kitimat harbour on a frigid January 19, 2012. (Robin Rowland)

At one point, the wind catches the sea smoke, creating a mushroom cloud over Kitimat harbour. (Robin Rowalnd)

The sea smoke drifts across Kitimat harbour.

Sea smoke hugs the Nechako dock at Kitimat, BC, surrounding the tug Smit Cecil and obscuring an empty barge anchored off the dock. (Robin Rowland)

Sea smoke almost hides the Hansa Heavy Lift Ship Venice tied up at the dock. (Robin Rowland)

Another view of sea smoke in Kitimat harbour, the Hansa Heavy Lift Ship Venice with Mt. Elizabeth in the background (Robin Rowland)

A heron in flight over the Kitimat River estuary.

Another view of the tundra swan in the Kitimat River estuary.

A pair of mallard ducks fly over the Kitimat River estuary.

Trumpeter swans, seagulls. Canada geese and ducks live in the estuary.

The sun sets over the mountains and the estuary.

Look closely and you will see a pair of bald eagles on the transmission tower.

A single red rose was placed on the table used for the television projector.

Watching as the Rev. Brent Hawkes of Toronto’s Metropolitan Community Church delivers the sermon.

Kitimat Mayor Joanne Monaghan worked closely with Jack Layton when both were officers of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Councillor Randy Halyk cracks a smile as Sarah Layton tells amusing stories about her late father.

Environmental activist Dieter Wagner of Douglas Channel Watch.

Councillor Rob Goffinet honoured Layton with an orange NDP tie.

NDP leader Jack Layton lost his battle with cancer this morning  August 22, 2011.

In this photo, taken August 26, 2005, Layton passes the CBC Broadcast Centre after walking the picket line in support of locked out CBC employees before speaking to the crowd gathered at Simcoe Park.

CBC:  Canada mourns ‘courageous’ Jack Layton

Globe and Mail:  Jack Layton eschewed attacks in pursuit of greater good

Layton speaks to a large crowd of locked out CBC employees and supporters from other unions at Simcoe Park, August 26, 2005.

Jack Layton and his wife Olivia Chow were regular participants in the Toronto Pride Pride. This photo is from the 2008 parade.