A field full of sheep graze around a giant ABC, spelled out in their pasture in hopes that Stephen Harper might see it from the air.

But the sheep donB次元官网网址檛 seem to mind as the sound of guitars and voices singing carry over their domain.

While this Metchosin field is quiet most days, Saturday was different. A few Metchosin friends got wind that the prime minister was supposed to be appearing at a Conservative fundraiser just down the road from those sheep, and thoughts of a peaceful protest began to form.

It all started with the idea of painting the sheep orange and snowballed from there, said organizer Shannon Carman. B次元官网网址淲e thought weB次元官网网址檇 gather Metchosin and have a little rally.B次元官网网址�

While this was an ABC B次元官网网址� anyone but Conservatives B次元官网网址� rally, it did not look to promote one specific political party but wanted to be inclusive, while encouraging Canadians to get out and vote for change on election day, Carman said.

B次元官网网址淭he idea was to keep it fun and lighthearted,B次元官网网址� she said as she bounced a fussy baby.

B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 want to be angry, we wanted to be taunting.B次元官网网址�

The group of protestors included a wide demographic, ranging from raging grannies to those wanting more support for veterans, and even a few clowns donning signage demanding more services for children. In total, roughly 150 assembled for the demonstration. Unfortunately for the group, the prime minister was not one of them. He wasnB次元官网网址檛 even on the Island Saturday. A Conservative Party of Canada spokesperson said Harper was scheduled to be in Newfoundland that day.

However, among those parading down William Head Road, was none other than Tony Turner, a former Environment Canada scientist who was suspended due to his viral YouTube protest song called B次元官网网址淗arperman,B次元官网网址� a rendition of which he led the crowd in.

B次元官网网址淚t showed me how it struck a chord with Canadians,B次元官网网址� Turner said of his song, which was inspired by the ways he felt the current federal government undermined democracy.

Turner announced his resignation last week, hopped on a plane and landed in B.C. to rally protestors over the weekend.  B次元官网网址淚 felt I had to do something,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think this is the most important election of my adult life.B次元官网网址�

Instrumental in getting Turner to the Island was Crystal Sawyer. She organized VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Harperman sing-along on Sept. 17, which saw roughly 350 show up for the event. She heard about last weekendB次元官网网址檚 Conservative fundraiser about three days before the event and instead of pursuing her own rally, joined forces with Carman for one big demonstration.

B次元官网网址淎nd here we are,B次元官网网址� she said with a smile. That smile vanished as she added, B次元官网网址淚n my lifetime I have never seen one issue unite so many Canadians. IB次元官网网址檓 downright embarrassed and shocked by the direction our government has taken.B次元官网网址�

Sawyer wants her son to grow up in a country he could be proud of. B次元官网网址淚t feels like this country is at a crossroads in its history and it could go very well or very bad.B次元官网网址�

She urged Canadians to get out and vote on election day Oct. 19. B次元官网网址淭he most important thing is that we vote together,B次元官网网址� she said.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com