On May 12th, about a hundred people gathered on Parliament Hill to call on the newly-elected federal government to sign onto and implement the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. This demonstration concluded “The Pilgrimage for the Planet,” where dozens of cyclists of faith and non-faith backgrounds completed a climate-friendly pilgrimage from Montreal. 

The demonstration occurred just before the new federal cabinet was announced to tell policymakers to prioritize climate action in the new government.

The pilgrimage, organized by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, was co-sponsored by CAFES as well as Fridays for the Future Ottawa, the Centre Oblat, the Laudato Si’ Movement, ORCIE, and KAIROS Canada. The demonstration featured a live performance by The Earth Dwellers, a local Ottawa band.

The pilgrims travelled to Ottawa by bike to “[embody] the shift away from fossil fuels,” according to main organiser Etienne Eason. 

“We’re in Ottawa to let the federal government know we’re ready to walk this journey together, the journey to a fossil fuel-free future,” he said.

Following the demonstration, CAFES Executive Director Angela Keller-Herzog participated in a press conference alongside representatives from faith and secular organizations to voice support for fossil fuel non-proliferation. 

“Today, as representatives of faith institutions and civic organizations stand side by side, we affirm something powerful: religion and science are fully aligned,” she said.

Watch the full press conference here.