Guelph seniors gathered for a rally on Oct. 1 to address the global climate crisis
A crowd of seniors gathered in downtown Guelph on Oct. 1, which is National Seniors Day and International Day of Older Persons, to bring attention to climate change and announced their hope for a more sustainable future.
Organized by Seniors for Climate, the Guelph rally was part of a wave of events in over 60 communities across Canada for seniors to share their climate concerns and discuss ways to take action.
Around 2:30 p.m., groups of seniors gathered in front of Old Quebec Street Shoppes and at the covered bridge by Royal City Park before making their way to Guelph City Hall. The Green “Seniors for Climate Action Now!” t-shirts and neon placards brightened Wyndham Street as the group marched, chanted, and sang.
At city hall, over 150 attendees gathered to listen as young and elder community members discussed their worries about the climate crisis. Speakers urged Guelph council members to defend the city’s “green” reputation with strong climate policies.
John Lawson, co-founder of Seniors for Climate Action Now, (SCAN), in Guelph, called upon Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold steady on climate commitments and sent a message to Premier Doug Ford.
“No more tunnel vision,” he said, referring to Ford’s announcement about looking into building a tunnel under Highway 401.
Other speakers tackled issues like overconsumption and the health implications of climate change.
Some speakers alluded to the environmental disaster their generation might be leaving behind for younger generations to deal with. Although it wasn’t all doom and gloom, as the crowd recited a pledge to protect the environment for future generations. Local singer and songwriter James Gordon and musical group Raging Grannies provided entertainment.
Norah Menzies, a member of Raging Grannies, strongly believes in the power of “fun and laughter” to deliver serious messages about acting on climate change. While the Grannies wore flouncy hats decorated with faux flowers as a nod to stereotypical “granny fashion,” their resolve to bring attention to the climate crisis was far from outdated.
A resounding message from the day was that people are stronger when they work together and that an intergenerational movement for climate action would be unshakeable. Plus, younger generations might find inspiration in the decades-long climate activism of local seniors.
We asked David Douglas, one of the event’s speakers and University of Guelph emeritus professor about how students should get involved in the climate movement.
“All the students in the university should demand that a public institution be publicly responsible and that anything the university is associated with has to be part of the climate solution,” said Douglas.
“Get serious,” Douglas said. “We’ve left you a bit of a ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ as our parents left us.”