Western Canada Wilderness Committee founder, Paul George will speak tomorrow (Friday, January 28, 2000) at the Rally to Save Burns Bog from noon to 1pm at the Vancouver Art Gallery located at 750 Hornby Street (Robson Street side).

The Rally is supported by a long list of community and environmental organizations including: Burns Bog Conservation Society, David Suzuki Foundation, Environmental Youth Alliance, IDERA, SFPIRG, SPEC, Sierra Club, UBC Student Environmental Center, and WCWC.

Speakers scheduled to speak at the rally include Eliza Olson of the Burns Bog Conservation Society, David Cadman of SPEC, Don DeMille, biologist and Paul George, founder of WCWC.

"For well over a decade the people of Greater Vancouver have demanded that Burns Bog be preserved in it's entirety," said George. "The saving of Burns Bog must become as important to our regional, provincial and federal governments as the construction of a new highway or Skytrain line. These governments must bite the bullet and buy the Bog - all of it - before any more of it is damaged by irresponsible development" he said.

George pointed out that with two million people living in Greater Vancouver, the purchase price (based on the Bog's tax assessment value and amortized over twenty years) would result in a minimal yearly cost to taxpayers. "The purchase of Burns Bog early in the 21^st century will go down in our region's history as a brilliant decision by our governments, equal to the decision that led to the creation of Stanley Park in the 19^th century," said George.

"I expect to see the Burns Bog Rally well attended. History is made by those who show up, you know," quipped George.