Thousands are expected to take to the streets in Vancouver on Friday, Sept. 20 as part of the Global Climate Strike.
Starting at Vancouver's City Hall around lunch, the protest will include a march to the Vancouver Art Gallery, impacting traffic along the way.
Climate event draws activists, musicians, students
The local event is organized by the Vancouver Climate Strike Coalition, a group that includes a variety of environmental and climate action groups like Four Our Kids Vancouver, Youth Climate Corps BC, and Force of Nature Alliance.
It's expected many youth will participate, in part because Sept. 20 is a professional development day for teachers and students are not in attendance at Metro Vancouver's public schools.
A pre-event for the protest will start at noon next to city hall where the groups will be making signs. At 1 p.m. a welcoming speech will be made, recognizing the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) lands that Vancouver sits on.
From there, at 1:30 p.m., the group will march to the Vancouver Art Gallery, with musical acts playing among the crowd.
At 2:45 p.m. programming will start at Robson Square where famed English singer-songwriter and activist Billy Bragg (who will be playing a show at the Commodore Ballroom after), along with others who will take the stage for performances and speeches.
Traffic impact
Those travelling along some of Vancouver's busiest streets and neighbourhoods may be affected by the event and march (a map of the route is in Slide 2).
With thousands expected to gather at City Hall at 1 p.m., the intersection of West 12th Avenue and Cambie Street could be affected by the protest as it starts.
Starting at 1:30 p.m. the group plans to march down Cambie Street (blocking northbound traffic on the Cambie Street Bridge) to Smithe Street. From there, they'll march across the downtown core to Hornby Street, where the route will turn right and head to the Vancouver Art Gallery's Robson Square.
The group is expected to be gathering at the art gallery at 2:45 p.m. How long streets will be affected is unclear.
The Vancouver Police Department confirms it is aware of the rally and march and will be monitoring the event.
