Elders For Ancient Trees Performs Flash Mobs Ahead of February Rally

Elders For Ancient Trees have carried out flash mobs at shopping malls across town in Victoria, ahead of a February 2023 rally at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

The group of twenty activists turned performers rehearsed for the event at the Raino Dance Studio. Then we volunteers joined them at The Bay Centre downtown at ground level near the Christmas tree and set up the scene, right under the nose of security which didn’t suspect a thing until the show started. The performers danced at the tune of “Stop! In the Name of Love” with alternate lyrics, before a small crowd of befuddled but entertained bystanders, while volunteers handed out leaflets advertising the group’s upcoming February 2023 rally at the Legislature. Then the performed chained with a Christmas song choir, once again with old-growth-themed lyrics.

We then quickly set out for two more performances, at Hillside Mall then Mayfair Mall. These two performances were more successful because they took place right next to the food courts, allowing for larger audiences and better opportunities to distribute leaflets. We left the scene as we came, under applause from the mall’s customers yet careful not to overstay our welcome. Puzzlingly, in neither case did security show up.

We have yet to find out whether we’ve been banned from any of these malls as a result. Not that any of us would weep if it did happen, we’d just take it as a badge of honour. Some of the performers were maced by the RCMP at Fairy Creek, after all.

While whether such performances can be effective at promoting an environmental cause would be questionable, the objective in this case was to promote an upcoming protest, which the group rightfully concluded must be done reaching people on the ground ahead of time. It may have been too early for such a move, however, as we’re still three months ahead of the February 25th rally, and people may forget about it by then; that being said, I heard whispers that while there would be no more such flash mobs (we’re running out of shopping malls, after all), there may be more bold initiatives ahead to remind the public of the event.