September 19 – 24, 2026
WILPF-Canada members were in Ottawa from September 19 to 24 to promote our 1000+ women for peace & #CareNotWarfare and to support the Seniors Climate Witness actions on Parliament Hill. We timed our trip as Parliament returned for its fall session and to mark the United Nation’s International Day of Peace and the Global Week of Action for Peace and Climate Justice.
On Saturday, September 19, WILPF members joined thousands of people in the Ottawa-Gatineau Climate March with our banner “Demilitarize, Decarbonize, Decolonize” and our buttons “Peace for Climate Justice.” At the end of the rally, Tamara gave a short speech about the climate impacts of the military, the need to demilitarize to decarbonize, and invited people to come to the film screening “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” the next day. Tamara and Ellen also attended the Seniors Climate Witness’ nonviolence training in the afternoon and the community dinner with the Algonquin Youth Collective in the evening. The community dinner was delicious and the conversation was inspiring!
On Sunday, September 20, Ellen participated in the Migrant Justice march that began at the Human Rights Monument. The march was part of a cross-country day of action for migrant rights and organized by the Migrant Rights Network.
Film Screening of “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” in the Capital
In the evening, WILPF-Canada co-hosted the film screening of “Earth’s Greatest Enemy”, a new documentary about the climate and environmental impacts of the U.S. military, at the Mayfair Theatre. The film was directed by American journalist Abby Martin and her partner, Mike Prysner, a Veteran for Peace. Over a hundred people came to watch the film. At the end of the screening, Tamara provided information about the Canadian military’s climate and environmental impacts. WILPF-Canada and VOW also had a table at the screening and passed out handouts, brochures and buttons. The film screening was also organized by VOW, the Raging Grannies, and Carleton PIRG.
WILPF-Canada and VOW hold Press Conference on International Peace Day
In the morning of Monday, September 21, which was the United Nations’ International Day of Peace and the first day of the Global Week of Action for Peace and Climate Justice, WILPF-Canada and VOW held a press conference at the West Block Press Gallery to announce their #CareNotWarfare campaign and their open letter to Prime Minister Carney and Women and Gender Equality Rechie Valdez to cut military spending and cancel the defence industrial strategy and instead invest in peace and green, care economy. The letter has been signed by over 1,400 women and approximately 80 organizations representing thousands of Canadian women. In the afternoon, we also hosted a rally #CareNotWarfare outside of the Prime Minister’s office and had a great turnout with several speakers including Ellen and Mariam, Yolande Henry, and music by singer-songwriter Chris MacLean and the Raging Grannies. At 6:00 p.m., Tamara led a discussion about the “Climate Impacts of the Military” at Carleton University organized by Climate Commons and Carleton PIRG.
The press conference for #CareNotWarfare can be watched on CPAC:
En français: Hausse des dépenses militaires : craintes d’associations pacifistes
Some media reported on the press conference including the National Post, Western Standard, and ipolitics. CBC did not cover the press conference.
Support for Seniors Climate Witness Protests on Parliament
On Tuesday, September 22, WILPF-Canada members participated in the Seniors’ Climate Witness protest on Parliament Hill. Several seniors got arrested for blocking the doors to a Parliamentary building.
Ellen and Tamara met with Senator Coyle’s staff to talk to her about our campaign #CareNotWarfare and our concern about rising military spending and militarism in Canada. At lunch time, we gathered with VOW members and Seniors Climate Witness folks at Green Door for a delicious vegetarian meal and a discussion about the various events and actions.
On Wednesday, September 23, Tamara supported the Seniors Climate Witness’ bold action blocking the road to Parliament Hill with rocking chairs and calling for no more money for pipelines and climate justice. She joined the action holding the banner “Militarism Fuels the Climate Crisis” in solidarity and support.
Panel and Article to Make the Arctic a Zone of Peace and Cooperation
In the evening on Wednesday, Mariam organized a panel “The Arctic at the Crossroads: A Zone of Peace or NATO 3.0” at Carleton University. This year is the 30th anniversary of the Arctic Council. The speakers were: Beth Kotierk, Inuk lawyer; Dr. Charles Brunette, Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Ottawa; Yves Enger, Canadian foreign policy analyst and author; and Tamara. The event was organized by Carleton PIRG & supported by VOW, WILPF-Canada, and the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute. After the panel, we stood with our banner “Stop the Militarization of the North: Canada out of NATO and NORAD. Protect Indigenous People. Cooperate on climate.” Tamara set up a table with WILPF-Canada’s and VOW’s handouts, brochures and buttons.
Earlier in the week, Tamara had an article published in Rabble.ca entitled “Arctic Council at 30: Circumpolar cooperation put on thin ice by NATO’s Arctic Sentry”. A shorter version of her article was printed in the Edmonton Journal, Hamilton Spectator, Niagara This Week, the Chronicle Herald in Halifax, and Saltwire throughout Atlantic Canada.
Meeting with South Africa High Commission
On Thursday, September 24, Mariam and Tamara had a meeting at the High Commission of South Africa to meet with the Deputy High Commissioner, the Senior Political Officer and a lovely staff member to thank South Africa for launching a legal challenge at the International Court of Justice or Palestine to hold Israel accountable for genocide. They also discussed Canada’s Africa Strategy released in 2025, the Senate’s new report Canada-Africa: Seizing a Strategic Opportunity, the recent BRICS’s meeting in New Delhi, and the possibility of middle power countries working for peace and preventing a global war.
Reception and Policy Discussion with President of Viet Nam to Canada
Later in the day, Tamara attended the high-level reception and policy discussion with the Vietnamese President and Communist Party General Secretary Tô Lâm on Parliament Hill. There were approximately 250 invited guests to hear the President of Viet Nam speak. It was the first time that a President of Viet Nam came to Canada. Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand introduced President Lâm and talked about Canada-Viet Nam relations. Then, the President gave a speech in Vietnamese and translated text is here. He emphasized the importance of peace and international cooperation.
Before the large audience, the President said “Viet Nam’s history is a journey of nation-building and national defense, struggles for independence and reunification, healing the wounds of war, and pursuing Renovation and opening up to the world. We understand deeply the sacred value of independence, self-reliance, and resilience. We understand and cherish peace, uphold dialogue, and believe that trust is durable only when words are matched by deeds, commitments are implemented seriously, and cooperation is mutually beneficial.”
While he was in Ottawa, President Lâm met with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Governor General Louise Arbour to officially upgrade Canada-Viet Nam bilateral relations to a strategic partnership to strengthen economic, trade, and energy ties with between the two countries. Prime Minister Carney and President Lâm issued a joint statement.
Before President Lâm came to Canada, he addressed the UN’s General Assembly and gave a powerful speech standing in solidarity with Palestine and Cuba, calling for more action for peace, climate change and sustainable development, and reinforcing the centrality of the UN in the international system. By contrast, when Minister Anand spoke at the UNGA she discussed Canada’s sanctions against Iran and North Korea, NATO, military spending, and support for Ukraine, but did not mention the climate crisis or sustainable development.
Brief Meeting with Minister for Women at the Reception for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
In the evening, Mariam and Tamara attended the reception organized by Action Canada with Minister of Women and Gender Equality to celebrate Canada’s commitment to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) on the International Safe Abortion Day. Minister Valdez’s speech was a followed by a panel discussion and a reception and took place at the Museum of Natural History. Mariam and Tamara were able to talk briefly to Minister Valdez about WILPF-Canada’s and VOW’s support for SRHR and the campaign #CareNotWarfare and our call to cut military spending for peace and a green, care economy.
