Whether in Vancouver or on the North Shore, scores of young people were on the move earlier today protesting government inaction on the climate crisis.
Youth from all over the Lower Mainland, including many students from North Shore schools, and other climate-concerned individuals congregated at Vancouver city hall at 1 p.m. Friday as part of the Global Climate Strike, inspired by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
Thousands were expected to attend the climate strike at city hall, which featured a number of speeches before the rally marched onwards across the Cambie Bridge towards Vancouver Public Library’s downtown branch.
At Lonsdale Quay, Grade 9 Argyle Secondary students Kefryn Johnson and Sam Fether waited to board the SeaBus on their way to joining the march at city hall in Vancouver. The duo were bringing placards proclaiming “There is no planet B” to the march. Both Johnson and Fether expressed concern for the future if government didn’t do more to mitigate the global climate crisis.
“The planet’s dying,” said Fether.
Johnson, looking ahead to the future, stated that if he were to have kids one day, he’d want them to have the opportunity to lead full lives as well – and not be stymied be a worsening global environment.
“Same as me,” he said. “I’d like to live till I’m at least 80.”
While classes officially remained in session Friday at both North Shore school districts, students in North and West Vancouver were allowed to miss school if they had explicit permission from their parents beforehand to attend the climate strike.
At Capilano University, the Capilano Students’ Union lead a procession of its members to the protest, but classes themselves were not cancelled.
Michele Fogal, mother of Sam Fether, accompanied her son and his friend to the SeaBus. She said she was encouraged to see kids all over the world had awoken to the realities of the climate crisis and were taking action to fight it.
“It’s sad that they have to grow up worrying about the future of our planet – that they may not have the opportunities and luxuries that we have,” said Fogal.
According to West Vancouver Schools, the district’s secondary schools experienced a 10 per cent higher number of absent students compared to a normal day, with a higher number of students likely missing class due to the Global Climate Strike happening across town. In the North Vancouver School District, there was approximately 47 per cent more student absentees recorded today compared to the previous Friday.
A number of Metro Vancouver retailers also lent their support behind the climate strike by opting to shut down for the day. On the North Shore, Mountain Equipment Co-op closed its North Vancouver branch, along with its other stores nationwide, until 5 p.m. so that staff had the opportunity to participate in the protests. The popular Vancouver-based Earnest Ice Cream, which boasts four locations including one in Lower Lonsdale, was also closed Friday.
While hordes of North Shore students made their way to Vancouver for the march, some young people found they may have been a bit too young to make the mission across the inlet – but proved they certainly weren’t too young to make a difference.
Young students from French-language public school L'école André-Piolat school and private school Alcuin College, both in North Vancouver, got a taste of environmental activism earlier today when dozens of students and their teachers marched on District of North Vancouver municipal hall and City of North Vancouver municipal hall, respectively.
While carrying creative signs sporting slogans such as “Frosty hates global warming” and “Green over greed,” the students chanted and marched around their respective municipal halls and along Lonsdale Avenue, where it was a common sight to see passersby honking their horns or offering words of encouragement to the mobilizing youngsters.
Sergio Barbosa, vice principal at Alcuin college, said they decided to keep their protest local because they were shepherding students in grades 3 to 6 and thought they could create a good learning experience here on the North Shore.
“We thought we’d just give them the experience so that when they’re older they’re able to go there,” said Barbosa, adding that their North Shore climate strike taught students how to be out in public, how to protest, and how to make sure their points got across.
“That’s the most important part,” said Barbosa. “It’s up to you: if you want to make a difference than your actions have to be that difference.”
Students at @AlcuinK12 with a #climatestrikecanada message. In front of @CityOfNorthVan pic.twitter.com/Z9IofnQ7Th
— Ben Bengtson (@BenBengtson) September 27, 2019
Earlier this week, North Vancouver school trustees voted to declare a climate emergency and threw their support behind students and teachers’ endeavours to bring the global climate crisis issue to the public.
Thousands of Canadians across the country participated in similar climate strikes Friday, including a massive rally in Montreal, led by Greta Thunberg as part of her world tour, which drew an estimated half a million participants.
While the Global Climate Strike was primarily led and organized by students, adults were welcome to join in the movement as well. Asked why North Vancouver resident Joey Davis decided to take the day off work in order to make a protest sign and venture across town to the march, he said he thought it would have felt wrong not to.
“I just want to see a change in policy, especially with the election coming up,” said Davis. “I’m looking for a change in the way that environmental issues are considered by the people that have the power to make change.”
- With files from Brent Richter and Jane Seyd
