Newmarket senior Janice Berger said she has seen plenty of anxiety and depression in the community as a psychotherapist.
Some of the escalation in mental health troubles is related to the climate crisis, Berger said.
When she saw the Seniors for Climate Action Now (SCAN) preparing to rally across the country, Berger said she wanted to raise her voice and take action.
“It’s so important, and I feel like our seniors need some help. Many of the people I talk to are just at a loss to know what they can do,” she said. “This is the one thing they can do and it’s quite simple.”
SCAN, alongside Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora, are hosting a rally Oct. 1 at the Mulock and Yonge streets intersection in Newmarket. SCAN is spearheading rallies nationally for Canada’s National Seniors Day to push for action on the environment and climate change.
Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora member Fran Bazos is also helping organize. She said seniors are a powerful group. She said the environment is her number one issue.
“My motivation is my grandson and because I used to teach children,” she said. “For many seniors, their grandkids or their children are who matter … What kind of world are they gonna be in? What are we leaving behind?"
SCAN said the event is meant to stress the need for serious action now on the climate emergency, the phase-out of fossil fuels with a stringent cap on emissions and a sped-up transition to renewable power and clean energy.
“On this day, our goal is to act Canada-wide on climate with actions that demonstrate our growing concern about the impacts of climate change and our desire to rebuild a healthy environment for future generations,” SCAN said on its website, with more than 60 events expected across Canada.
Berger said seniors have great political power that they are not always aware of.
“So the more bodies we can get out to show that we care and to be able to tell our grandkids and kids we’ve done something, that’s my main thing is,” she said.
Berger added that she hopes such a rally can also help young people.
“I just feel like the young people are being left behind here because they’ve learned about the crisis, and sometimes they have trouble talking about it with people in their lives,” Berger said. “We need to get out there and raise the awareness.”
“A lot of people, especially young people, feel there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it,” Bazos added. “That is not true. There are changes happening all over the world … The movement toward renewable energy is out the door and it’s happening.”
The rally will run from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 1. You can find more information on the Seniors for Climate Action Now website.
