Worried About Their Grandkids' Future, More Seniors Are Taking Up The Climate Fight | Cbc News

On a bustling Saturday morning in Toronto's financial district, a group of seniors gathered to make their voices heard. Led by 82-year-old John Hout, around 20 silver-haired agitators aimed their ire at RBC, a Canadian banking giant known for its heavy investments in the oil and gas industry. Their protest centered around RBC's financial support for the contentious Coastal GasLink project, which is being constructed on unceded Wet'suwet'en territory in northern British Columbia. Hout and his fellow demonstrators stood in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en people, who are fighting for their Indigenous rights and opposing the pipeline being built without their consent. But it wasn't just about the local impact. Hout emphasized, "It's a pipeline that's meant to expand fossil fuel extraction. That's all contributing to global warming, and instead of decreasing our carbon footprint, we're increasing it." Among the group was 78-year-old Peggy Lathwell, who arrived at the protest on her bicycle. Fueled by her deep concern for the environment, she shared, "I'm terrified of what we're doing to the Earth. I just see us heading like lemmings over the cliff." This spirited gathering was organized by Seniors for Climate Action Now! (SCAN). Lead organizer Nick De Carlo addressed the crowd, and soon the group marched down the street, joining other protest groups outside RBC's gold-coated headquarters at Wellington and Bay streets. Placards were raised, anti-capitalist slogans chanted, and a variety of speakers passionately criticized RBC's investment practices. The SCAN members even engaged in a bit of street theater, donning masks to satirize a climate debate with bankers. This action, known as Fossil Fools Day, took place simultaneously in cities across Canada. It served as the latest demonstration against RBC, now recognized as the world's largest financier of fossil fuel projects, according to a report by the advocacy group Banking on Climate Chaos. Moreover, it showcased the growing mobilization of an older generation to join the climate action movement. Inspired by the passion and impact of young activists like Greta Thunberg, Canadian groups such as SCAN, Climate Legacy, and Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet (GASP) are becoming increasingly visible and vocal. De Carlo, 76, highlighted the natural gravitation of people towards their cause. "It's not that we've had to convince people that it's important to join our group," he explained. "People have gravitated to us." As the seniors' movement gains momentum, their presence and activism are a powerful testament to the universal concern for the environment and the urgency to address climate change. With their determination and passion, these silver-haired advocates are proving that age is no barrier to taking a stand for a sustainable future.