When a West Kelowna mom and teacher couldn香蕉视频直播檛 find a climate protest to join she decided to start her own.

Bobbi Vojtko faced threat from the McDougall Creek wildfire and was evacuated with her family for more than a week.

After returning home, Vojtko decided it was time to make her voice heard and in collaboration with the Okanagan Climate Hub hosted a climate march on Sept. 17.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e spoken to a lot of people and most people are ready to have that conversation,香蕉视频直播� Vojtko said. 香蕉视频直播淓ven if it just gets [the conversation] started and triggered in my own immediate community of my friends and family then I think I香蕉视频直播檝e won.香蕉视频直播�

Dozens of people gathered outside Kelowna City Hall with handmade signs reading 香蕉视频直播楽ave our planet香蕉视频直播�, 香蕉视频直播楥onserve what our children deserve香蕉视频直播�, 香蕉视频直播業 want you to act like your house is on fire because it is香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播業香蕉视频直播檝e been doing this s*** since the 70s香蕉视频直播�.

Black Press asked Vojtko if she was aware of the new wildfire west of Peachland that was being listed as a wildfire of note while people started to gather. She called it disappointing, but has faith in our firefighters to protect the communities.

香蕉视频直播淲e have solidarity in numbers,香蕉视频直播� Vojtko said to the crowd. 香蕉视频直播淟et香蕉视频直播檚 let our leaders know that Kelowna and the Okanagan want to see more action and more change.香蕉视频直播�

Damien Gagnon joined the march. He said he香蕉视频直播檚 been involved in climate activism for the past several years.

香蕉视频直播淥ur government is willing to acknowledge climate change and the man-made consequences of it, but they香蕉视频直播檙e unwilling to do anything about it. I genuinely believed香蕉视频直播� when Lytton burnt to the ground that that would be the catalyst for change from the government, I thought that would serve as a wake up call but it didn香蕉视频直播檛. And now this year more towns have burned as we香蕉视频直播檝e seen in the Northwest Territories.香蕉视频直播�

Gagnon echoed Vojtko香蕉视频直播檚 statement of power in numbers, noting the importance of gathering and networking to push for mass change.

The group gathered at noon and left from city hall just before 1 p.m. to march toward Harvey Ave. up to Richter Street and back to the municipal building.

A group of climate change deniers attended the protest. Kelowna RCMP were on hand to maintain the peace.

READ MORE: Evacuation alerts, orders come down for fire west of Peachland

brittany.webster@blackpress.ca
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