Betty Krawczyk will turn 79 on Saturday, August 4, 2007. Those concerned that she might mark the occasion by sitting down in front of a piece of heavy equipment can rest assured that there will be no such affront to the rule of law; the diminutive white-haired great-grandmother remains incarcerated at the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women in Maple Ridge, BC, where she is serving the 10 month prison sentence imposed last March. She was found in contempt of court by Justice Brenda Brown for having violated an Order made in a lawsuit commenced by the companies upgrading the Sea to Sky Highway. The Order restrained everyone from a number of activities, including travelling on the highway except in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. To date no one has been cited for contempt of court for speeding. The companies have taken no steps in furtherance of their lawsuit, which was clearly just a tactic to obtain a court order that would entitle the police to arrest misguided demonstrators like Betty.

Betty’s family and friends look forward to her eventual release from prison and to a delayed celebration of her birthday then.