SCAN! OTTAWA
Who We Are …
The SCAN! Ottawa group began to take shape in the fall of 2022, and our numbers continue to grow. During that time, members have supported and been involved in the actions featured below.
To find out how you can participate, please email us at
ottawa@seniorsforclimateactionnow.org
And please like us on Facebook and follow us on Bluesky.
We’d love to know what you think!
“Stop the Burning!”/A march to save the planet
On September 19, SCAN! Ottawa members joined the climate march titled “Stop the Burning” to call on governments to phase out fossil fuel energy and ramp up renewables.
To watch the video
Ottawa Members Meet in Paradise
We could not have asked for better weather or a nicer location for our June members’ meeting. Thanks to our generous host Rebecca, our meeting in the backyard of Terranova was extremely pleasant as well as very productive. Stay tuned for more information on our plans for August, September, and October!
Canadian Environment Week!
SCAN! Ottawa members tabled at the Blackburn Hamlet Fun Fair on June 6 and got to talk to lots of interested folks about climate. Our thanks to the generous folks of the Blackburn Community Association who shared their table with us!
SCAN! Ottawa joined forces with the Ottawa Raging Grannies on the weekend to promote love of Mother Earth at one of the city’s largest parks. To view our video
Click the button to read the SCAN! Ottawa May newsletter. Don’t miss out on all our upcoming activities and read all about our past actions.
Walking the Talk in Carleton …
On May 1, SCAN! Ottawa members, two of whom are his constituents, had a very lengthy, in-person meeting with Carleton MP Bruce Fanjoy who let us in on why he ran against Poilièvre–he wanted to be a climate action and environmental champion. In his personal life, he certainly walks the talk. He is presenting a very promising bill to the federal Environment Committee, and we hope he will win the support he needs. Stay tuned …
Take a Look at How We Celebrated Earth Day 2026!
to view Doors to Renewables
SCAN! Ottawa members and friends gathered at the NAC on Earth Day 2026 to call attention to the need for investments in renewables rather than pipelines. In this video, we invite the government to walk “through the doorways” now open to the potential of renewables.
to view Up with Renewables
On Earth Day this year, SCAN! Ottawa tried its hand at creating tableaux to convey the urgent message of “Down with fossil fuels, up with renewables”.
Rallying and then Relaxing in Ottawa South/March 17, 2026
A Successful Visit to the Orleans MP's Office
To learn more about SCAN!'s Community Resilience and Resistance Campaign
We did it again!
This week a few of our valiant SCAN! Ottawa members demonstrated in front of MP Jenna Sudds’ office in Kanata and delivered our letter demanding action on climate and support for renewable energy projects instead of pipelines and pie in the sky carbon capture. Her staff person was kind enough to take this photo and promised she would make sure Ms Sudds read our letter. Of course, some social time was enjoyed at a nearby pub afterwards.
An Evening with Veldon Coburn
On Monday evening (January 26), 45 people braved the snow and cold to hear Veldon Coburn talk about Finding Common Ground: working with our Algonquin Neighbours for Environmental Priorities. The event was co-sponsored by the NW1 Environmental Action Group, SCAN!— Ottawa, and CAFES. The lively event gave us all a lot to think about and answered some of our most pressing questions.
Veldon Coburn is Anishinaabe, a citizen of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation. He is an Associate Professor at McGill University and the Faculty Chair of the Indigenous Relations Initiative in the School of Continuing Studies.
Another Visit to an MP's Office
On January 27, a determined group of SCAN! Ottawa members braved the snowstorm and delivered a message to yet another Liberal MP’s constituency office demanding that the government make climate action its top priority. Stay tuned for the next visit, which will take place in Kanata in two weeks.
On January 13, a small but valiant group of SCAN! Ottawa members met in front of the Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester office of MP Mona Fortier to deliver a letter expressing our concern for Prime Minister Carney‘s withdrawal from policies that would reflect the values he espoused in his book. Attached were the seven demands from SCAN! as part of our Community Resistance and Resilience Campaign. After our demonstration, we gathered at a nearby restaurant for some coffee, tea and treats, and a chance to socialize and get to know when another better. See the notice above about our next event!
Draw the Line National Day of Action
Click the image to get a glimpse of an event SCAN! Ottawa was very proud to be a part of …
… and click the links below to find out what the press had to say about this landmark event.
Help Us Draw the Line!
We hope many SCAN! Ottawa members can attend the September 20 March and help out after it with the community gathering hosted by SCAN! Ottawa. Email us if you would like to volunteer. The march will start in front of the Prime Minister’s office at 11:00 am.
Help us spread the word. Click each image to download and share the English and French posters.
To get more information about the this special day, click the image above to watch a short video.
To make a donation to support the Draw the Line March, Ottawa-Gatineau, September 20, click HERE
Elder Claudette Commanda’s opening address was both inspiring and moving.
Earth Day 2025
SCAN! Ottawa’s April 23 Earth Day event was a great success. Stay tuned for our next big event in coalition with many other Ottawa groups on September 20.
Christophe led us in song to help energize us.
Representing Kitigan Zibi Land Guardians, Dulce gave a very interesting and informative talk about their efforts.
Our Seniors for Climate flash mob was joined by Lisgar high school students!
The presentation by our brightest lights, World Changing Kids, was the highlight of the event.
Art and the Environment
Members of SCAN! Ottawa and friends were able to create a mural on the topic of climate change along with a group of youth at the Vanier Boys and Girls Club thanks to the talented muralist, Claudia Salguero, and a generous contribution from the Awesome Ottawa foundation. Here is a short video about the project.
To view the video, click the image.
National Seniors Day for Climate Action
October 1 in Ottawa was quite successful and enjoyed good media coverage on CBC and Radio Canada as well as a great article in the National Observer (see below). Our fantastic flashmob dancers, who spent many hours practising for the big day, attracted lots of media attention, and members of the public flocked to watch as soon as the music started. Some even joined in, including Joel Harden, our NDP Ottawa Centre MPP, and Mitchell Beer, publisher of the Energy Mix. Next was an indoor event at Knox Presbyterian with six presentations by local and national environmental groups, followed by a lively discussion on how we can support their efforts at the municipal level since the city of Ottawa is far from where it needs to be in implementing the Climate Emergency Master Plan. The mayor officially proclaimed the day “Seniors for Climate Day” (read the proclamation below), and the deputy mayor began our event with the presentation of the framed proclamation. We were also regaled with a song by the Raging Grannies and another flashmob dance and ended with two powerful numbers by the Just Voices choir. There were refreshments and information tables and an opportunity for those attending to network and become more familiar with the groups involved. It was a day to remember!
To Read the City of Ottawa Proclamation
To Read the Op Ed in the Ottawa Citizen
To Read the Account in the National Observer
Interested in joining our movement? Become a SCAN! member today!
SCAN!’S COP29 Postcard Campaign
Talking to Seniors
Protesting Plastics/April 21, 2024
SCAN! Ottawa members joined 500 others on The Hill to demonstrate their concern about plastic production and pollution to bring public attention to the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
Fossil Fools Day
On April 6, SCAN! Ottawa members took part in the FOSSIL FOOLS DAY rally in front of the RBC branch at Queen and Bank in support of Wet’suwet’en land defenders. The rally was organized by Decolonial Solidarity and attended by many other local groups.
SCAN! Ottawa Heads to City Hall
Recently SCAN! Ottawa joined with many other Ottawa and national groups such as Ecology Ottawa, Horizon, CAFES and Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment to call on the city to ban fossil fuel advertising on city buses and property. The motion presented by Councillor Menard directs staff to review the policy and return with recommendations by Q3. It passed unanimously at Finance and Corporate Services Committee and will go to Council in April. SCAN! Ottawa members are encouraged to call their councillor and ask them to support the motion.
The delegations speaking in support of a motion to review the City of Ottawa’s advertising and sponsorship policy in order to ban fossil fuel ads start at hour 2:00.
OTTAWA TURNED UP!
GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE, SEPTEMBER 15, 2023
Many SCAN! Ottawa members supported the efforts of Fridays for Future Ottawa and the many other organizations who helped plan this event on Parliament Hill. A few of our members were even part of the core organizing team.
Canada is Burning/Day of Action, June 28
Ottawans made themselves heard!
Renewable Power for All
SCAN! Ottawa members joined hundreds of others on Parliament Hill on June 5 for a rally organized by the David Suzuki Foundation to support 100% clean electricity. Thousands of petitions calling for “Renewable Power for All” were accepted by Minister Guilbeault in person.
SCAN! MEMBERS SHOW UP!
“Enough is Enough” Rally
On June 3, many SCAN! Ottawa members joined hundreds of others from unions and the labour movement, adding their voices to send Ford a loud and clear message about the impacts of his destructive policies on the environment.
Capping Fossil Fuel Emissions
On May 25, SCAN Ottawa members joined in on the cross-Canada Day of Action organized by Leadnow in support of a strong cap on fossil fuel emissions as the government prepares to release the first draft of regulations limiting emissions from the oil and gas sector.
SCAN! Ottawa members were part of a coalition of groups that participated in a rally on April 20 to focus on Imperial Oil tailing leaks in Northern Alberta. This situation has shone a light on the looming threat the more than 1.4 trillion litres of oil sands tailings—a mixture containing arsenic, leftover bitumen, toxic naphthenic acids, silt and clay—pose to the people, lands and waters downstream of the oil sands.
To read the National Observer‘s account of the event, click HERE