Last November, Enbridge probably didn't expect there would be much controversy when its proposed pipeline project, Northern Gateway, was named as the "official legacy partner and presenting partner" of the 2015 Canada Winter Games.

"As Enbridge was a major partner of the 2007 Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon, we appreciate the company's continued support of the Canada Games movement through its Northern Gateway project," Games CEO Stuart Ballantyne said in a news release.

For his part, Northern Gateway project president John Carruthers said that Prince George is a "very important part of the Northern Gateway family". 

But apparently, a musician with deep roots in Prince George doesn't want to belong to this "family".

Raghu Lokanathan stated in a letter to the Prince George Citizen that he's lived in the city "for the better part of the last dozen years" (though he has also made his home in Victoria).

He declared that two bands he's with have been invited to perform at the Coldsnap Festival, which is being held in association with the Canada Winter Games.

"However, after learning that Northern Gateway, ie., Enbridge, is one of the official sponsors of the games, I've decided to withdraw from these performances," Lokanathan wrote. "I'm very much opposed to the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline project and don't wish to play any event associated with Enbridge."

Enbridge has proposed a $6.5-billion pipeline to ship diluted bitumen from the Alberta oil sands to Kitimat, along with a second pipeline going the other way to transport condensate. The company claims on its website that it has "mapped out a route that runs 1,177 rational and respectful kilometres".

In December, Lokanathan performed at an event in Prince George to raise money for six First Nations who've launched legal challenges against the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.

In a 2010 article in the Georgia Straight, music writer Alexander Varty noted that folk legend and labour activist Utah Phillips had compared Lokanathan's songs to those of Woody Guthrie.

"But that was before the Victoria-based musician issued his third CD, Blue Girl, and took a wild swing onto the weird side of the road," Varty added.

In case you're wondering, there are no Enbridge logos in the video below, which promotes the 2015 Canada Winter Games. But you will spot a few wild animals indigenous to the area.