Castlegar to host climate change rally
By Contributor
Castlegar citizens will come together to demand climate justice from our leaders on the eve of the Paris UN climate summit. The rally will be at the Celgar Pavilion in Millennium Park on Sunday, November 29 at 2pm. There is also a march starting at City Hall leaving precisely at 1:30pm to arrive at the Pavilion for the rally’s start-time. This march and rally will be in solidarity with thousands of communities around the world holding similar events that same weekend. The event is being organized by a team of people passionate about conserving our environment, the Castlegar Citizens Concerned about the Climate Crisis, which includes several youth from Stanley Humphries Secondary School, the West Kootenay EcoSociety and other partners, some who will be speaking at the event.
The UN climate summit will bring together world leaders to discuss and instigate solutions for our unsustainable carbon output and deterioration of our environment. The group hopes that Canadian and other world leaders see this enormous people power for action on the climate crisis and will improve their commitment to reduce carbon emissions and move towards 100% renewable energy at the climate summit.
“This rally is important to me because the world will see that people are ready to move towards a clean energy earth,” says Alyssa Chirstianson, a grade 12 student at Stanley Humphries Secondary School who has been involved with the planning of this event. “Our world leaders will see that young people especially are motivated to take a stand and demonstrate their opinions to our government. We have the most to lose in the climate crisis, our futures.”
“This rally is important because it brings the community together to show we care about the climate crisis – an issue that crosses boundaries and impacts us is so many different ways,” says Jayme Jones, the chair of the planning committee. “By joining the global community who are mobilizing ahead of the Paris climate summit, our community is showing solidarity in asking governments to create a new and ambitious climate agreement.”
West Kootenay EcoSociety Community Organizer Montana Burgess expressed her support for this event stating, “I’m excited to have the privilege to be in Paris for the summit. In the wake of the horrific attacks on Friday in Paris and Beirut, it’s more important than ever that we stand together for justice, peace and dealing with the climate crisis at home in the Kootenays and around the world.”
Everyone is welcome and invited to bring signs and banners with messages of hope for a future with 100% renewable energy. There will be hot chocolate and tea provided by the Sunshine Café, and everyone is encouraged to dress warmly.
Other West Kootenay events are being organized in Nelson and Rossland also on November 29. Follow the local rallies, marches and vigils online and share your photos and updates using #KootsClimateRally.
Contact Information
Jayme Jones
Organizing Committee Chair
250-365-0283
Alyssa Christianson
Youth Representative on the
Organizing Committee,
250-687-1650
Montana Burgess
Community Organizer
West Kootenay EcoSociety
(t)250-354-1909 (m) 250-509-0184
