- Hub staff
The first people to show up at Owen Sound City Hall to speak up for the planet had followed social media to their nearest #ClimateStrike. Max Klein, 11, a student at Macphail Memorial Elementary School, came from Markdale because “people need to know that the earth is dying and the polar ice caps are melting”. His sister Saskia, 8, added “and if we don't do anything, the earth will turn into Mars and we can't live there.”
Néo Givard-Serrano, grade 4 said he was attending his third protest because “we need to reduce greenhouse emissions”. He and 
Evan Gennaro, grade 5, and Olivia Gennaro, grade 7, all from Toronto, interrupted a vacation in our area to attend. Olivia said “This is our future. Adults who won't even be around are doing nothing, so we need to do something about our future and our children's.”
Owen Sounder Gavin Menzies said climate change seems to remain at the bottom of the list at all levels of government. “They think short-term – money always trumps the environment. Change will have to come from the people, and when there are enough of us, governments will have to listen.”
As if on cue, at that point another dozen people came marching up chanting “What do we want? Climate action! When do we want it, now!”