Hear Manitobans’ takes on the Winnipeg Climate Strike.

By Ginaya Jesmer

17-year-old student Lena Andres speaks to Winnipeg climate strike protestors through her megaphone. /GINAYA JESMER

An estimated 12,000 people marched through the streets of Winnipeg yesterday in an effort to bring forth climate action.

Lena Andres, 17, holds up her megaphone and addresses the crowd.

“What do we want?” she asks.

 “Climate action!”

Andres raises a tightly-clenched fist to the sky.

“When do we want it?”

“NOW!” says the crowd, their voices bellowing through the streets of Winnipeg.

“It feels unfair that older generations of people get long, healthy lives,” says Andres. “I deserve as much of a right to the future as they do.”

Protestors march down Assiniboine before reassembling at the legislative grounds./GINAYA JESMER

Parents, children and students like Andres joined the Winnipeg climate-strike walk, organized by Manitoba Youth for Climate Action.

The walk started around 1 p.m. at the Manitoba Legislative Building, went through Broadway toward Main and circled back via Assiniboine.

For the climate

Karla Schultz and her two sons hold their signs in protest. “It’s important for me, and for them,” says Schultz.

Early childhood educator Karla Schultz, 43, watches her kids run around the legislative building after the march and asks them, “Why are we here?”

Her six-year-old son Odin replies, “For the climate.”

Schultz smiles and says, “What are we doing?”

“We’re going to fight for the climate.”

Manitoba Youth for Climate Action estimates 12,000 people attended. /GINAYA JESMER

Josie Krahn, 26, drove from Steinbach to Winnipeg for the strike.

“My heart is beating faster than it has in a long time,” says Krahn. “I’m grateful that people care, and that I get to be a part of it. We are all one family, with one home. We have to protect it.”

Our Time

26-year-old student Hannah Muhajarine, laying in the grass after getting names from people at the Winnipeg 2019 climate strike for Our Time, a political movement aimed towards a Green New Deal. /GINAYA JESMER

Hannah Muhajarine, 26, is a student and member of grass-roots group Our Time, a national youth-led movement pushing for climate action in the form of a Green New Deal.

“Everyone needs to be on board,” says Muhajarine.

Land cannot be owned

The strike featured artists, performances and speakers throughout the afternoon.

Brielle Beardy-Linklater walks away from the stand after delivering a powerful speech to protesters./GINAYA JESMER

Two-spirit, Indigenous activist Brielle Beardy-Linklater stands in front of thousands of Manitobans during the strike and says, “Land cannot be owned. We belong to it.”

Eric Rae, 35, orchestrated a theatrical performance for the climate strike.

“What’s going on with the planet is absurd and horrific. The strike is good but there is a lot of hard work to do,” says Rae. “It’s important to continue the conversation.”

Crowds dispersed between 5 and 7 p.m., with some people setting up their tents for the night.

What’s next?

Our Time is hosting the “I Went to the Climate Strike! Now What?” event at The Good Will Social Club on October 1 at 7 p.m. for those who want to stay involved with climate action.

RRC students interested in the environmental causes can join the Sustainability Club by contacting Josh Roopchand at sa_president@rrc.ca.