Mounties gear up for Jumbo Glacier Resort protests

Mounties in Invermere, B.C., say they may have to bolster staff to deal with protests opposing the controversial Jumbo Glacier Resort.

The Liberal government approved the project, to be the country's first year-round glacier-based ski resort, earlier this week.

The resort has drawn fierce opposition over the years, including blockades and massive protests.

Jumbo opponents are still deciding what their next steps will be, but Jim Galloway with a local conservations society says the fight is far from over.

"We are going to fight this tooth and nail."

The Columbia Valley RCMP detachment in Invermere has about a dozen members, and Staff Sgt. Marko Shehovac started putting together a Jumbo policing plan a year ago.

"I certainly suspect there is gonna be civil disobedience and we have to start preparing for that now rather than wait for that to happen," he said.

Shehovac believes the court system will likely buy the detachment additional time for preparation, but says they may have to ask for more staff to deal with protests.

"The first step will obviously be in the courts. After 20 years and all that's happened, I don't expect something to happen there."

Shehovac said the location will be a challenge to both police and protesters as the Jumbo site is a long trip down a rough logging road.