'Protesting Grandpa' arrested in snorkel gear after entering Trans Mountain terminal from water

The self-described "Protesting Grandpa" is once again in police custody following an apparent attempt to hang a protest banner froma barge at the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby, B.C., early Wednesday morning.

In an emailed statement,Burnaby RCMP said, a 71-year-old man allegedly entered the facility at the foot ofBurnaby Mountain the western terminus of the Trans Mountain pipeline from the water, wearing a snorkel and mask,at around 3:50 a.m. PT.

RCMP said theman was arrested afterbreachinga court-ordered injunction that says protesters must not come within fivemetres of a Trans Mountain site.

Amedia release from environmental campaign group Stand.earth identified the71-year-old as Terry Christenson, the "Protesting Grandpa."

"Ontario resident Terry Christenson was arrested as he attempted to scale a construction crane on a barge at the Westridge Marine Terminal and hang a banner that reads "No Tankers," said the release, which said it had been sent on Christenson's behalf.

Other arrests

Christenson has been arrested twice before while protesting the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline.

In March, he was arrested after camping out in a tree on Burnaby Mountain for 16 hours.

On April 29, he climbed 30 metres into atree on the Westridge Marine Terminal property and was arrested as he came down from the large cottonwood almost 36 hours later.

Christensonis facing one charge of criminal contempt for his actions Wednesday, and was expected to appear in B.C. Supreme Court later that day.

Last month, the federal government approved construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion for the second time, after the Federal Court of Appeal overturned its initial approval in August 2018.