An IT specialist and middle-aged father of two has been sentenced to 60 days of house arrest for blocking traffic as part of the Save Old Growth environment protest group. Benjamin Donald Holt had stood on top of an eight-foot stepladder setting off coloured smoke bombs in the middle of Grandview Highway in Vancouver in April 2022. His co-accused Si Yao Liu glued his hands glued to the road.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Save Old Growth

An IT specialist and middle-aged father of two has been sentenced to 60 days of house arrest for blocking traffic as part of the Save Old Growth environment protest group.

Benjamin Donald Holt had stood on top of an eight-foot stepladder setting off coloured smoke bombs in the middle of Grandview Highway in Vancouver in April 2022. His co-accused Si Yao Liu glued his hands to the road.

Their actions along with multiple other protesters caused the road to be closed and delayed traffic for several hours.

According to a Feb. 2 B.C. Provincial Court decision, Holt was arrested and charged following three separate incidents of blocking traffic in and around Vancouver.

In one incident Holt had to be removed from the ladder with a harness and a fire truck.

He was arrested and released with conditions, one of which being he was not to possess any ladders.

Weeks later, the 52-year-old was again found to be blocking traffic as part of a protest, and on another occasion was caught painting a "SAVE OLD GROWTH" 50-metre sign on Vancouver's Lions gate Bridge. He was also charged with breaching his bail condition by participating in another protest.

The decision said Holt is a married father of two who worked for Save Old Growth for $2,000 a month.

However, the North Vancouver resident maintained the wage wasn't sustainable and he would have to go back to his regular job as a self-employed IT specialist.

B.C. Provincial Court Judge Gregory Rideout described him as a person of good character and reputation.

"I made a conscious decision knowing that it would likely lead to a situation like the one I find myself in now. It was not a decision I made lightly. It was a huge departure from my norm and yet it was one I felt morally I had to make," Holt said in a letter to the court.

"I am very sorry for the inconvenience my protests have caused other people. It shouldn’t be necessary for ordinary citizens such as myself and my colleagues to put ourselves out there to try and force the government to do the right thing."

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However, the judge didn't consider the letter enough of an apology.

"His letter is more of an explanation for his conduct than a heartfelt and genuine apology to the public impacted by his involvement in the four protests," the judge said. "His apology goes no further than to express his sorrow for the 'inconvenience' caused by his protests.

"I find his actions did not create a mere inconvenience to the public. Rather his actions created a serious and significant impediment on the public’s ability to go about their business on the roadways of the Vancouver region without disturbance," Justice Rideout said in the decision.

Crown prosecutors argued Holt should do 35 days in jail, while Holt argued he should receive a conditional discharge, which meant he wouldn't get a criminal record.

"I find that there is a pressing need in this case to emphasize the principle of general deterrence," the judge said.

Ultimately, Holt was sentenced to 60 days of house arrest.

Holt's co-accused also received a sentence of house arrest at a separate hearing.

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