April 2026
For Our Kids Toronto Joins City-Wide Earth Day Celebration
For Our Kids Toronto Joins City-Wide Earth Day Celebration
On Saturday April 18th the For Our Kids Toronto team participated in the Earth Day Globe Walk, a city-wide celebration of the earth. The event was spearheaded by Artists for Real Climate Action (ARCA), a non-partisan group made up of Canadian actors, filmmakers, musicians, playwrights, and other artists all sounding the alarm over our climate crisis. We decided to participate because we wanted to join ARCA’s call for safe air, clean water, and a fair, healthy future for all, alongside numerous other Toronto climate groups.
The city-wide event started at Bluffer’s Park with a sunrise celebration on the shores of Lake Ontario and ended with a sunset celebration at Humber Shores on the other side of the city. Community gatherings, called Re-Charging Stations, were hosted by various local climate groups along the walk route that featured music, drama, dance, children’s activities, and climate information.
Between the various Re-Charging Stations, a group of musicians, local residents and climate organizers paraded a large Globe puppet, along with wind and sun puppets, across the city to celebrate Mother Earth. Anne Keary, Susan Bakshi, and Corey Helm from For Our Kids Toronto joined the marathon walk across the city, in both rain and shine. We were honoured to have Indigenous Elder Sally Gaikezheyongai lead the sunrise celebration and share her Indigenous knowledge and traditions along the walk across the city.
The For Our Kids Toronto team participated in two of the Re-Charging Station events and led children’s activities that were enjoyed by many families. Kate (For Our Kids Toronto Co-Lead), Diana (13 years old and a Friday For Future Member), Sarah (9 years old) and Greg took our buttonmaker to join the all-ages celebration. We helped kiddos and adults make earth buttons and colour postcards to be sent to the Premier of Ontario Doug Ford to let him know that Toronto wants renewable and pollution-free energy (not fossil fuels or nuclear). We all enjoyed cheering on the Globe walkers along the route. We also had a chance to hold the Globe - “it's in our hands!”
Throughout the day, residents were invited to sign a petition to the Ontario government that asks for the province to develop a new climate plan which triples wind and solar power, scales battery storage, rapidly phases out fossil gas, and upholds our obligations to ensure free, prior and informed consent over any projects happening on Indigenous lands. We collected close to 500 signatures, which were presented to the government on Earth Day.
Being part of this day of hope, joy, and action was just what my family and Toronto For Our Kids needed during a time when the Ontario provincial government and the Canadian Federal Government are not doing nearly enough to support and advance renewable energy. With the world feeling pretty heavy right now, participating in this fun community event alongside climate organizers and concerned residents of every age provided such wonderfully inspiring and hopeful vibes!
Kate Mills - For Our Kids Toronto Co-Lead
Want to get involved in the Toronto For Our Kids Team? Contact Kate at [email protected]
