In northeastern B.C., Ken Boon has transformed a small log cabin along the former Peace River into a museum showcasing five decades’ worth of memorabilia from protests against the contentious Site C dam. The collection includes shirts, mugs, posters, technical documents, and legal filings gathered since the 1970s, all on display at what he dubs the “Site C Sucks Museum.”
Despite the conclusion of the battle against Site C, Boon emphasized the importance of documenting and preserving the legacy for educational purposes. A prominent photo on the museum door captures the late premier John Horgan standing with Boon and his wife Arlene, holding a sign that bluntly reads “Site C Sucks.”
The recent decision to name the dam after Horgan, who initially opposed the $16-billion project before backing its completion, has left many, including Boon, reflecting on the unexpected turn of events. Boon, who lost valuable farmland to the dam’s reservoir, noted the irony in the naming process, considering other potential figures who could have been associated with the project.
The reservoir, stretching 83 kilometers, was christened “Nááchę mege,” meaning “dreamer lake” in the Dane-Zaa language, chosen by local First Nations. Chief Roland Willson of the West Moberly First Nation criticized the naming as disrespectful, highlighting the impact on ancestral burial sites submerged beneath the reservoir.
Site C had faced years of legal challenges and opposition from Indigenous groups over farmland flooding and the disturbance of century-old gravesites. While B.C. Hydro engaged with several First Nations in naming discussions, some, like West Moberly, refrained from participating.
Despite the official naming of the dam after Horgan, former premier Christy Clark expressed surprise at the decision, given Horgan’s past opposition to the project. Meanwhile, former B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver suggested that Horgan would have felt uneasy about having the dam named after him, citing his humility and the controversial history of the project.
The naming of the dam continues to spark debate and reflection on the complex history and impact of the Site C project in the region.