Students lead protests for climate action outside city hall.

Calgary student protestors advocate for climate action while balancing school and life.

Every Friday protestors gather on the steps of city hall to protest against climate change.

Led by student organizers, these demonstrations are a part of the FridaysForFuture (FFF) movement. They urge people, students, in particular, to skip school on Fridays, in order to send a message to their local governments.

The movement was started in 2018 by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, and according to the organization’s statistics, has reached over 150 countries.

“It’s all about the future that we’re going to have, that our kids are going to have,” said 15-year-old high school student, Katherine Arich, in a face to face interview.

Arich, inspired by Thunberg’s call to action, began protesting because she felt that the Calgary government was not doing enough and that she needed to take action into her own hands.

“It’s tough, you have to make sure you keep up to date,” said Arich, when asked about balancing her work with school. She often has to skip class in order to participate in demonstrations.

Despite receiving some backlash from the Calgary school board, Arich said that her family and teachers are very supportive.

Fellow student organizer, Rose Jackson, also cites having support from family and teachers as a source of encouragement.

The 18-year-old environmental science student at U of C said that she had always been a passionate advocate of sustainability. “I’ve always admired activism and I thought this [FridaysForFuture] was my best shot at doing it.”

It wasn’t just students gathered at town hall either, but protestors of all ages attended, making their voices heard.

“It’s real-life experience that these kids are missing out on,” said Janet Elzer, a Calgary school teacher and parent to one of the younger protestors.

Elzer explained that due to budgeting reasons, the Calgary school board has since reduced classes on certain Fridays, either reducing them to half-day or cancelling entirely.

Elzer, said that she was inspired by the sustainable way of living seen while visiting the U.K., specifically, in being able to live without the need for a vehicle. As well as getting to witness, first-hand, the protests and activism happening overseas.

Upon coming back to Canada, Elzer and her family had tried to recreate that way of life but “it was next to impossible.”

Wanting to set an example for her children, as well as bringing about change in public policy, Janet Elzer and her daughter began participating with the FFF in March of this year. She believes that, as a parent, supporting our youth is important; since many younger children aren’t able to attend these types of events on their own.

Rose Jackson reinforces this sentiment, expressing how important it is, for youth especially, to participate.

“A lot of these kids can’t vote, they need this platform for their voices to be heard,” said Jackson.

Jackson stated that the main goal of the FFF in Calgary is for their voices to be heard. “We want people to join us; we want our government to take action. In any way, shape or form.”

Katherine Arich added on that, they want to show people, especially Calgarians, that their movement is “pro-worker”.

That the transition to renewable resources, and moving away from a fossil fuel-based economy doesn’t happen overnight, so we need to start taking action now.

The Calgary branch of FridaysForFuture has been protesting since February of this year. Consistently receiving around 20 people week-to-week with signs and chants. As well as organizing large scale demonstrations and campus walkouts.