On September 20th, 2025, Ottawa showed up en masse for Draw the Line, a rally for people, for peace, and for the planet. This was not only Ottawa-Gatineau's annual climate march, but this year it was part of a Canada-wide Day of Action to stand up against injustice and work together for a better future. About 2,000 people participated. CAFES and many of our members helped organize and came out on this bright sunny and hopeful fall day.
In Ottawa, we put forward the following asks:
Contingents starting in Ottawa and Gatineau converged at the US embassy on Sussex Drive, then marched to the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights on Elgin, where Seniors for Climate Action Now hosted a celebration with music, food, and community.
Over 70 organizations contributed to the march as coalition members, endorsers, and supporters. Throughout the march, we heard from diverse speakers and performers, including The Ottawa River Singers and the Grandfather Drum, Elder Albert Dumont from Kitigan Zibi, Noémie Lebrun & Céline Lopez from Mères au front – Région de l’Outaouais, Karen Cocq from Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, Maria from Water is Life Gaza, the labour contingent including Nathan Prier from CAPE, seniors from SCAN Ottawa (Seniors for Climate Action Now) and youth from our member organization World-Changing Kids!
Thank you to all of the organizers, volunteers, and participants who made this day a huge inspiring success!
