Students from all corners of the National Capital Region joined the Ottawa Global Climate Strike protest on Sept. 27 to storm Parliament Hill and make their voices heard.

The following students shared their reasons for joining the march and the importance of raising climate change awareness.

Jenn Colavincenzo, 22, TV broadcasting student at Algonquin College

Jenn Colavincenzo, Algonquin College student Photo credit: Brian G. Sharbin

“I think it’s really important for us to recognize what this planet gives us and what we’re losing. We only have one chance left and it’s terrible that politicians aren’t taking action.

I think it’s my duty to be here. Nature is something we should all care about and I think we need to send the message to our leaders that what they’re doing isn’t okay and that change needs to happen now.”

Genevieve Bowlby, 20, interior design student at Algonquin College

From left to right: Jade Scatliffe, Delaney Leefe and Genevieve Bowlby, Algonquin College bachelor of interior design students Photo credit: Brian G. Sharbin

“We’re all studying design, so for us, this is going to affect the direction of our careers. Moving towards sustainable solutions for design and architecture is where our passion lies.”

Makayla Brennan, 18, history student at Carleton University

Makayla Brennan, Carleton University student Photo credit: Brian G. Sharbin

“I don’t want to have kids anymore because it seems like there’s no point.

I have younger brothers and sisters that are here, and it just makes me upset to see little kids fearing the effects of climate change and being afraid of dying.

It shouldn’t be their problem so it’s up to us to fix this.”

Anna Paluch, 27, Indigenous and Slavic futurism in visual art and film PhD student at Carleton University

Anna Paluch, Carleton University student Photo credit: Brian G. Sharbin

“It’s a scary situation – I have family in Poland and my husband’s family is from the Philippines so to hear about everything happening around the world makes it even more scary and realistic.

I’m very passionate about making sure our planet is still going to be here for the future generations.”

Laura Nygaard-Mendoza, 21, international development and globalization student at the University of Ottawa

Laura Nygaard-Mendoza, University of Ottawa student Photo credit: Brian G. Sharbin

“It just makes sense – there’s the science, there’s the evidence – I just want to live, I want to have children and I want to have a life like my mom and dad.

It’s really just the logical thing to do.”

Lusa Harris, 20, international development and globalization student at the University of Ottawa

Lusa Harris, University of Ottawa student Photo credit: Brian G. Sharbin

“I’m here today because, as a development student, we learn about things like climate change and how it’s going to impact developing countries the most.

To me, that’s the biggest thing because these are the countries that, for the most part, aren’t even producing all these problems for the environment and they’re the ones that are going to be hit with it the hardest.”