Drawing the line! – Transition Kamloops
September 20, 1 to 3 pm Riverside Park, Kamloops. We listened, we sang (Climate Crisis written by George M. & Ben Johnson), we chanted, we walked—joining a nation-wide movement to Draw the Line: for People, for Peace, and for the Planet.
Across Canada, tens of thousands of people did the same, in more than 70 communities from coast to coast. The Kamloops event, which drew about 80 people, was organized by Kamloops Seniors for Climate Action in collaboration with Youth of Kamloops Network for Climate Action. Members of various groups helped out and spoke at the event, including representatives of Transition Kamloops, the Kamloops Food Policy Council, the Chase Environmental Action Society and 350.org.
The goal, as described by national organizers, was to “send a clear message to the Carney government” that many of their actions are fueling climate change, as well creating injustice for many people. The national body of Seniors for Climate was strongly behind the event, modelled after a previous day of action held October 1, 2024. As they note, “We are seniors demanding our governments build a better Canada—free from the devastation caused by burning fossil fuels—where all Canadians benefit from affordable, healthy solutions to the climate crisis.”
Kamloopsians of all ages, as well as folk from surrounding communities, came out loud and proud. Seventy-two postcards, provided by the national Seniors for Climate body, were signed by participants; imaginings of firestorms engulfing Whistler and Banff, they were sent to the Prime Minister’s office, demanding action on Climate change. Patricia Spencer, the main force behind the event, summed it up: “I think we would all agree that Saturday’s event was a great success! The speakers, the song, the postcards, the march itself—all went well.”
Seniors for Climate also hosted a webinar with the author of Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast, John Vaillant, in advance of the march. Here’s John Vaillant’s keynote and here is the full webinar recording.
Transition Kamloops
Transition Kamloops is a volunteer-driven, registered not-for-profit society focused on increasing local resilience and self-sufficiency in food, water, energy, culture and wellness. We emphasize a local economy, healthy ecosystems, and grassroots community building, while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. We believe in a better way: a community that sustains life in all its diversity, strives for equality and justice and invests in the future.
Transition Kamloops recognizes that we are living on Secwépemcul’ecw—land that was never ceded to settlers, and continues to be home to vibrant Indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions. We acknowledge the impact of colonization, forced displacement, and ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous peoples. We commit to listening, learning, and building positive relationships with Indigenous communities as we work towards reconciliation.
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