Over 130 communities across Canada came together last week to show a united wall of opposition to pipelines, reckless tar sands expansion, and runaway climate change.

On Nov 16, Kimberley and Cranbrook residents joined communities across Canada in a national Defend Our Climate, Defend Our Communities day of action to show growing opposition to the risks posed by pipelines and oil sands expansion to our climate and communities.

The action comes as federal and provincial governments are pushing for pipelines across the country.

The action took place at Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks’ office in downtown Cranbrook. Local volunteers organized the event with national support and facilitation by Leadnow.ca and dozens of environmental, indigenous, and community groups. Forty locals of all ages joined the rally to show their opposition.

“We’re so proud to have Cranbrook showing their support for this national initiative” said local event organizer Skye McDougall, “and excited to be joining so many communities across the country to demand climate action now.”

The day of action comes as a recent poll designed by the University of Montreal shows an overwhelming majority of Canadians want the federal government to take stronger action on climate change.

“On Saturday, we saw communities opposed to reckless oil pipeline expansion in the west with communities on the east and the north to defend our climate and communities,” said Maggie Knight of Leadnow.ca. “We are seeing growing impacts of more extreme weather across the world, and the people who stood up today want Canada to be a part of the solution.”

“We’re very pleased to see the momentum and building awareness locally for this global concern,” said Dean Chatterson, President of Wildsight Kimberley/Cranbrook, “and the will to take positive action.”

For more information on the Defend our Climate, Defend our Communities Day of Action, please go to the website: http://defendourclimate.ca.

Submitted/Photos by Bob Benvenuti

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