Opinion: Why Calgary seniors are drawing the line on climate change
On Sept. 20, some Calgarians joined communities across Canada and around the world for Draw the Line, a massive day of action for climate, justice and peace. Seniors, youth, workers and Indigenous groups united to demand a future that is safe, fair and free from the grip of fossil fuels and corporate power.
Here in Calgary, the need for action is urgent. Our summers are getting hotter, droughts are getting longer and wildfire smoke shrouds our city for an increasing number of days. As seniors, we’ve seen these changes over time, and we know that without action the next generation will face even greater risks.
Across Canada, seniors are playing an increasingly active role in pushing elected officials to act on climate, economic and social issues. Seniors have time, they have resources, they have strong communities and they vote. A Calgary seniors group known as the Eco-Elders for Climate Action (EECA) planned Calgary’s Draw The Line rally and march, in conjunction with Seniors For Climate, a national organization.
The Eco-Elders host several events per year, including talks and movie screenings at Unison Alberta’s Kerby Centre in downtown Calgary, climate town halls, guest speakers, cafes in the park and meetings with Alberta MLAs. Draw The Line was their latest endeavour and the first time they invited other activist groups to participate in the event.
In the afternoon heat, seniors linked arms with Indigenous people, union organizers, migrant workers, Palestinians and Calgary’s youth to send a clear message to our governments: we are fighting for the same goal, a safe, livable world for future generations.
That means winding down the era of fossil fuels and building a diversified economy where people and communities come before corporate profit and politics, protecting nature and regenerating damaged ecosystems, and respecting human rights.
The Calgary Draw the Line event featured Indigenous drumming and singing by Chantal Chagnon and notable guest speakers, including Jared Blustein, director of the Calgary Climate Hub; longtime environmentalist Michael Kerfoot; Dr. Ronnie Joy Leah; author and climate activist Noel Keough; Brian Patterson from Eco-Elders for Climate Action and Seniors For Climate; Elder Nicole Johnston of the Piikani Nation; Nellie Alcarez from Migrante Alberta; Clay Gordon from CUPE Alberta; Palestinian author, academic and activist Muhannad Ayyash; and the Climate Hub’s Talynn English, speaking as a young Albertan who will be most affected by climate change in coming decades.
Voices were raised to demand a better path forward — affordable clean energy, respect for Indigenous rights, justice for migrants and workers, peace instead of endless war, and communities that are vibrant, affordable and thriving.
Draw The Line events were held in cities and rural municipalities across Canada and were part of a global mobilization just six weeks before world leaders meet in Brazil for COP30. The choices they make at the latest COP will steer our future trajectory. Government and industry representatives won’t make measurable commitments without a firm push in the right direction from the citizens most affected by their decisions.
On the last day of summer, Calgarians of all ages and from all walks of life stood together and signalled their intention to keep building a broad community of support. Their commitment was clear: to keep pushing those in power to listen to the people who are concerned that we are continuing down the same path that has led us to the many problems we now face.
There is a better path, but we won’t find it without working together.
Robert Miller is a retired systems engineer, formerly with General Dynamics Canada. He is now volunteering with the Calgary Climate Hub to promote community-led forestation projects in Calgary and is a member of Eco-Elders for Climate Action.