10 moments from last weekend's Women's Marches across Canada | CBC Canada 2017 - Action News
Home WebMail Friday, November 22, 2024, 02:43 PM | Calgary | -10.4°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Canada 2017

10 moments from last weekend's Women's Marches across Canada

From a tiny march in Sandy Cove, N.S. to a massive one in Toronto, a look at how Canadians supported the Women's March on Washington.

"These are issues that all Canadians need to be thinking about," says Calgary marcher Carolyn Greene

Raised to rise up a tiny marcher waves a sign at Toronto's protest supporting the Women's March on Washington. (John Rieti/CBC)

On Saturday, January 21, over 600 "sistermarches" took place around the world in solidarity with the Women's March on Washington. Over 30 solidarity events took place in Canada, with tens of thousands of Canadians taking to the streets.

Here are highlights from 10 storiesyou might have missed about our country-wide demonstrations.

Sandy Cove, N.S.: "We really weren't expecting any kind of turnout."

About 14 women and one man turned out in the village of Sandy Cove, N.S., to march between the school and fire hall in support of women's rights. (Submitted by Gary Wilson)

While the biggest gatherings dominated the headlines, gatherings also took place in smaller towns likeSandy Cove, N.S. The roughly 15-woman person march actually punched above its weight per capita, considering the Nova Scotianvillage is home to only about 65 year-round residents.

"It just felt like one of those moments in history that you couldn't stand by and passively observe," saidGwenQuigley Wilson, who walked along the only road that runs through Sandy Cove with her contingent.

Halifax:"I felt it was my duty to come here today"

A man and woman share a moment as demonstrators gather in support of the Women's March on Washington in Halifax on Saturday. (Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press)

Wendy MacAskillofSackville, N.S., was among roughly 1,000 Maritimers who ralliedin support of the Washington march at the Grand Parade in downtown Halifax.

"I came here today because the election had me feeling despondent," she said."On behalf of the girls and women in my family, I felt it was my duty to come here today be active and involved and aware."

Toronto:"Make empathy great again."

Thousands marched through the streets of Toronto today to support the Women's March in Washington. (John Rieti/CBC)

An estimated 60,000 people participated in the Toronto chapter of the march, which wound through the downtown core and ended up at City Hall. Among them, thewoman in the photo above, whoheld up a sign riffing on President Donald Trump's now-famouscampaign slogan.

Hamilton:"We're not going anywhere."

"For the women, immigrants, & folks with disabilities targeted by hate, we stand with you," tweeted Michelle Both with this photo at @michellelboth. (Michelle Both/Twitter)

Anna Davey, co-organizer of a Hamilton event that drew at least1,000 people, said she and others are planning to continue their efforts well beyond the weekend.She said theU.S. electionmay have renewed momentum, but theconcerns raised by the marchersaren'tnew, particularly for women from minority communities.

Winnipeg:"We have to be loud."

Winnipeggers Mackenzie Smith, 16, and Macgregor Goodman, 16, came out to Saturday's march. (Jillian Taylor / CBC)

Thousands of people paraded down Portage Avenuein Winnipeg on Saturday for a march in solidarity with the Women's March on Washington. Among them, a trans woman named CynthiaFortlagewhotold CBC News thatLGBTpeople are scared of Trump and what his presidency could mean to them.

"We're going to lose the rights we already have," she said. "If we want to protect those we have to mobilize."

"We have to be loud, we have to be proud and we have to get people to understand we are human beings too and we deserve human rights."

Saskatoon:"It's kind of like a second suffrage movement."

Some demonstrators found creative ways to show their support. (Alicia Bridges/CBC News)

In Saskatoon, Stacey Tatestold CBC News,"It's sad that we have to deal with something like this again."

"We've gone through a suffrage movement, and it's kind of like a second suffrage movement, but it's historical and it's something that we will be able to tell our children and our grandchildren."

Edmonton:"We are welcoming of men and boys and non-binary folk."

Participants held placards with serious and sentimental slogans at the march in Edmonton. (Phil LaPlante/CBC)

In Edmonton, an organizer named Alison Poste says protestors are resisting much more than the Trump presidency.

"It's more about some of the forces, I suppose, that put him into this position.Where even the most vile language for a candidate, is not a barrier for him to hold the highest office. And that's a problem."

She also said theevent is not based on partisanship or gender.

"Although it is called the Women's March, we are absolutely welcoming of men and boys and non-binary folks, who believe that women's rights are human rights."

Calgary:"These are issues thatall Canadians need to be thinking about."

A woman smiles amid a sea of Albertans protesting in downtown Calgary. (Rachel Maclean/CBC)

More than 5,000 people gathered in front ofCalgary's City Hall onSaturdayto march in solidarity includingCarolyn Greene, whosaid the marches send amessage to Canadian politicians too.

"This march represents a whole host of issues, obviously women's rights is important but there are a lot of other things that I think are under threat facts matter, the attack on science and scientific evidence, these sorts of things we have faced in our own country," she said.

"With the upcoming Conservative leadership race, I think these are issues that all Canadians need to be thinking about."

Vancouver:"I wanted to set an example."

Demonstrators in the Women's March Vancouver outside of the Trump Tower downtown. (Christer Waara/CBC)

Vancouver marchers walkedpast the U.S. Consulate General and theTrump Towerin downtown Vancouver, winding up in front ofJack Poole Plaza to hear from several speakers. Organizer estimates put attendance between10,000 and 15,000.

Lisa Matsuzaki, who attended the eventwith her four-year-old daughter, said she's marching to set an example. She wants her daughter to know "she has power ... that her voice is important."

Yellowknife and Whitehorse:"We still have a lot of work left to do."

Meghan Housley marched in Yellowknife, one of dozens of women to take part in the solidarity march with thousands of women across the world. (Alex Brockman/CBC)

Hundreds of people joined marchesin Yellowknife and Whitehorse in a show ofsupport for equality and human rights.

Sarah Murphy, whohelpedorganize the Whitehorse march, saidTrump isjust part of the picture, adding "this is so much bigger than just one individual.

"The moment that Trumpwas elected, we've seen hate crimes rise across our country, we've seen people with ideas that other people are somehow less than them suddenly voicing them comfortably and that's pretty alarming."

Many Canadians crossed the border to support American women on their own soil. Here are some articles telling those stories:

Diane Ballantyne took this photo during the Women's March on Washington, D.C. (Diane Ballantyne)