Climate Emergency Vigils (Waterloo Region)
Creating Shared Spaces to Grieve & to Hope
Click to watch the video above introducing the climate emergency vigils hosted in Waterloo Public Square. This latest round of vigils in 2026 will be different as they are hosted monthly instead, at different locations in partnership with faith and wisdom communities. Please watch this page and subscribe to the FCJ newsletter for more details.
The climate crisis continues to deepen. Despite decades of talks the world is still on track for average warming of 3℃ above pre-industrial levels, or more. Such a massive rapid shift in global temperature would mean the transformation of our climate system as we know it, and lead to disastrous consequences for human societies and much life on Earth (see for instance, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report 2023, and Summary for Policymakers, among many other highly rigorous climate reports and resources).
In response, cities and towns around the world have declared a “climate emergency", because we are clearly living in one. In Waterloo Region, cities, townships and the region itself declared a climate emergency in 2019, following local organizing pressure. Yet declaring an emergency is one thing – acting like we are in one is another. It is our view as local organizers and activists that to protect our communities, it is far past time for our governments to act like it’s the climate emergency they say it is.
In early November, world leaders will gather at the United Nations climate conference in Azerbaijan (UN COP29) to set commitments to try to limit further climate change. In preparation for that meeting our community will host weekly climate vigils, to hold space together during this momentous time in human and planetary history.
Join us for sacred spaces of grief and hope. Together we grieve - for all the past and present inaction over climate and for the hypocrisy of governments who declare climate emergencies but continue with business-as-usual. And together we hope. We remember that not all is lost. Time is running out but we can still act. And we can act with justice and compassion.
In response, cities and towns around the world have declared a “climate emergency", because we are clearly living in one. In Waterloo Region, cities, townships and the region itself declared a climate emergency in 2019, following local organizing pressure. Yet declaring an emergency is one thing – acting like we are in one is another. It is our view as local organizers and activists that to protect our communities, it is far past time for our governments to act like it’s the climate emergency they say it is.
In early November, world leaders will gather at the United Nations climate conference in Azerbaijan (UN COP29) to set commitments to try to limit further climate change. In preparation for that meeting our community will host weekly climate vigils, to hold space together during this momentous time in human and planetary history.
Join us for sacred spaces of grief and hope. Together we grieve - for all the past and present inaction over climate and for the hypocrisy of governments who declare climate emergencies but continue with business-as-usual. And together we hope. We remember that not all is lost. Time is running out but we can still act. And we can act with justice and compassion.
Details about the climate vigils
Winter 2026 Schedule and Locations
This year the coordinating team is proceeding with monthly vigils hosted in partnership with faith and wisdom communities in the Region in the lead-up to the United Nations climate conference (COP31) in Türkiye in November (and a pre-COP to be hosted in a Pacific Island Country, in a location to be confirmed).
Note: From January to May 2026, we will post information about additional monthly vigils, as these become confirmed.
First Vigil: We are beginning the year with the first climate vigil on Sunday, February 15th, 4pm in Bechtel Park, Waterloo. The climate vigil partner for this will be Burning Bush Forest Church (BBFC) and the speaker will be BBFC's founder, Wendy Janzen. Note as this vigil will be held outdoors, we encourage dressing for the weather as appropriate. Please join us.
Second Vigil: The second vigil of the year will take place on Sunday, March 22nd, with Knox Presbyterian Church, Waterloo. Specific timing and speaker to be confirmed. Stay tuned!
Interested to possibly host a vigil? Please contact us at [email protected] if your faith community would like to co-host a climate emergency vigil with us to discuss this in more detail.
This year the coordinating team is proceeding with monthly vigils hosted in partnership with faith and wisdom communities in the Region in the lead-up to the United Nations climate conference (COP31) in Türkiye in November (and a pre-COP to be hosted in a Pacific Island Country, in a location to be confirmed).
Note: From January to May 2026, we will post information about additional monthly vigils, as these become confirmed.
First Vigil: We are beginning the year with the first climate vigil on Sunday, February 15th, 4pm in Bechtel Park, Waterloo. The climate vigil partner for this will be Burning Bush Forest Church (BBFC) and the speaker will be BBFC's founder, Wendy Janzen. Note as this vigil will be held outdoors, we encourage dressing for the weather as appropriate. Please join us.
Second Vigil: The second vigil of the year will take place on Sunday, March 22nd, with Knox Presbyterian Church, Waterloo. Specific timing and speaker to be confirmed. Stay tuned!
Interested to possibly host a vigil? Please contact us at [email protected] if your faith community would like to co-host a climate emergency vigil with us to discuss this in more detail.
Fall 2025 Vigils
In 2025 the coordinating team proceeded with monthly vigils hosted in partnership with faith and wisdom communities in the Region in the lead-up to the UN climate conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, November 10th – 21st.
First Vigil: We began with the first climate vigil on Sunday, October 26th, 6pm in Willow River Park (aka Victoria Park), Kitchener in partnership with Land Back Camp members. This vigil was hosted by Indigenous speaker Amy Smoke, Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan from the Six Nations of the Grand River, a Two Spirit land defender/water protector and community organizer, co-founder of O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp, and an instructor at the University of Waterloo.
Second Vigil: The second climate vigil this fall was co-hosted with members of Mount Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday, November 16th, 2025 at 2pm. During this we were lucky to hear from guest speaker, Lutheran Pastor Marie Besong from Cameroon - a strong advocate for her people who live in one of four countries containing Lake Chad, a vast freshwater wetland that shrunk in size almost 95% from 1963 to 1990. The vigil also included music, silent reflection, and calls to action.
In 2025 the coordinating team proceeded with monthly vigils hosted in partnership with faith and wisdom communities in the Region in the lead-up to the UN climate conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, November 10th – 21st.
First Vigil: We began with the first climate vigil on Sunday, October 26th, 6pm in Willow River Park (aka Victoria Park), Kitchener in partnership with Land Back Camp members. This vigil was hosted by Indigenous speaker Amy Smoke, Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan from the Six Nations of the Grand River, a Two Spirit land defender/water protector and community organizer, co-founder of O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp, and an instructor at the University of Waterloo.
Second Vigil: The second climate vigil this fall was co-hosted with members of Mount Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday, November 16th, 2025 at 2pm. During this we were lucky to hear from guest speaker, Lutheran Pastor Marie Besong from Cameroon - a strong advocate for her people who live in one of four countries containing Lake Chad, a vast freshwater wetland that shrunk in size almost 95% from 1963 to 1990. The vigil also included music, silent reflection, and calls to action.
Details about the Vigils
What to bring: This is a vigil; the mood is reflective. Most importantly, we invite you to bring your full self as well as your own stillness of spirit, for a period of gathering and mindful reflection with others. No RSVP is required. Families, friends, partners all welcome.
Who is organizing: A small group of local activists, actively involved with climate and social justice organizing efforts in Waterloo Region, and inspired by many others - as well as members of varied faith communities co-hosting the vigils. Organizers share experience in animating the 50by30WR campaign, advocating for climate emergency declarations across Waterloo Region, supporting A Better Tent City, advocating for Indigenous justice and housing equity, and organizing local climate strikes. Organizers come from groups including local faith communities, Divest Waterloo, 50by30WR, and Faith Climate Justice Waterloo Region, among others.
Organizing commitment: We will strive to lead these vigils in a good way, centering radical love and care for our communities. As organizers, we also commit to learning with participants on a shared journey, and will seek to incorporate emerging suggestions and ideas as appropriate. If you have helpful feedback, let us know (contact: [email protected])
Acknowledgements: As local organizers, we understand that we stand in solidarity with and learn each day from the wisdom and leadership of so many others. These vigils are a contribution that we hope to make to the much broader “ecosystem” of climate and social justice organizing happening in Waterloo Region. Further, we acknowledge that this work is happening on stolen Indigenous land, and that we must all walk alongside Indigenous communities and calls for justice that are clearly connected to climate justice.
Why climate vigils?: As local organizers, we feel called to create intentional public space for deeper reflection, in solidarity with many others who are also gathering and acting on climate change around the world. We feel consistent space is needed now more than ever; space that allows all of us to collectively process the weightiness of climate change while demanding a compassionate and just response.
The intention of these gatherings is to create spaces that complement necessary climate strikes. Climate vigils, with their spoken and silent meditations, are meant to provide sacred, reflective space for “feeling” the gravity of the climate crisis together; and feeling supported in this challenging time.
What we mean by “climate vigil”: A vigil is a ceremony, a time for observance, purposeful watching, even “wakefulness”, with space for spiritual reflection. Vigil in Latin means literally “being awake.” The gatherings will include reflections, stories, and times of silent meditation – different from a public protest or rally. We hope each vigil will be designed in such a way as to help each of us better “wake up” to the immense climate challenges of our time, and to be inspired to act together. Vigils will evolve as they go.
This is not a typical protest or rally. While part of the reason we gather is to call on governments to act, it’s also important for us to be together at this time - to feel, to grieve, and to honour the work of so many in responding to the climate emergency, and transitioning to a more sustainable and just world for all. We don’t want to be asleep when our house is on fire – instead, we need to “wake up” and remember how much we can still do to respond with compassion, right here in our communities.
What to bring: This is a vigil; the mood is reflective. Most importantly, we invite you to bring your full self as well as your own stillness of spirit, for a period of gathering and mindful reflection with others. No RSVP is required. Families, friends, partners all welcome.
Who is organizing: A small group of local activists, actively involved with climate and social justice organizing efforts in Waterloo Region, and inspired by many others - as well as members of varied faith communities co-hosting the vigils. Organizers share experience in animating the 50by30WR campaign, advocating for climate emergency declarations across Waterloo Region, supporting A Better Tent City, advocating for Indigenous justice and housing equity, and organizing local climate strikes. Organizers come from groups including local faith communities, Divest Waterloo, 50by30WR, and Faith Climate Justice Waterloo Region, among others.
Organizing commitment: We will strive to lead these vigils in a good way, centering radical love and care for our communities. As organizers, we also commit to learning with participants on a shared journey, and will seek to incorporate emerging suggestions and ideas as appropriate. If you have helpful feedback, let us know (contact: [email protected])
Acknowledgements: As local organizers, we understand that we stand in solidarity with and learn each day from the wisdom and leadership of so many others. These vigils are a contribution that we hope to make to the much broader “ecosystem” of climate and social justice organizing happening in Waterloo Region. Further, we acknowledge that this work is happening on stolen Indigenous land, and that we must all walk alongside Indigenous communities and calls for justice that are clearly connected to climate justice.
Why climate vigils?: As local organizers, we feel called to create intentional public space for deeper reflection, in solidarity with many others who are also gathering and acting on climate change around the world. We feel consistent space is needed now more than ever; space that allows all of us to collectively process the weightiness of climate change while demanding a compassionate and just response.
The intention of these gatherings is to create spaces that complement necessary climate strikes. Climate vigils, with their spoken and silent meditations, are meant to provide sacred, reflective space for “feeling” the gravity of the climate crisis together; and feeling supported in this challenging time.
What we mean by “climate vigil”: A vigil is a ceremony, a time for observance, purposeful watching, even “wakefulness”, with space for spiritual reflection. Vigil in Latin means literally “being awake.” The gatherings will include reflections, stories, and times of silent meditation – different from a public protest or rally. We hope each vigil will be designed in such a way as to help each of us better “wake up” to the immense climate challenges of our time, and to be inspired to act together. Vigils will evolve as they go.
This is not a typical protest or rally. While part of the reason we gather is to call on governments to act, it’s also important for us to be together at this time - to feel, to grieve, and to honour the work of so many in responding to the climate emergency, and transitioning to a more sustainable and just world for all. We don’t want to be asleep when our house is on fire – instead, we need to “wake up” and remember how much we can still do to respond with compassion, right here in our communities.
Acknowledging the land and First Peoples
As we gather in reflection and silence to hold time for climate vigils, we honour and acknowledge the First Peoples and the land on which we gather. We acknowledge that we are part of a society that wrongfully dispossessed the first and ongoing caretakers of the land. Caretakers who know how to sustainably use the land, who respect natural boundaries and observe limits, and who honour and support the interconnectedness of all life - and who are still here doing this work today.
The traditional peoples of this land are the Chonnonton, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee. The Haldimand Proclamation of 1784 promised almost one million acres of land to the Six Nations of the Grand River. To date, only 48,000 acres remain under Indigenous control.
All settlers share in the responsibility to respect land agreements and their original intentions. As we gather on the watershed of the Grand River, we honour all the rights of the Six Nations of the Grand River, and we acknowledge the presence and gifts of many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island. Together, we seek to renew and nurture right relations.
The traditional peoples of this land are the Chonnonton, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee. The Haldimand Proclamation of 1784 promised almost one million acres of land to the Six Nations of the Grand River. To date, only 48,000 acres remain under Indigenous control.
All settlers share in the responsibility to respect land agreements and their original intentions. As we gather on the watershed of the Grand River, we honour all the rights of the Six Nations of the Grand River, and we acknowledge the presence and gifts of many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island. Together, we seek to renew and nurture right relations.
Materials to share
Materials about the vigils that can be shared with your networks include:
Media Release on the Climate Emergency Vigils (co-written by the organizing team)
Downloadable posters, stickers and banners for the vigils here
Downloadable outreach messaging about the vigils here
Media Release on the Climate Emergency Vigils (co-written by the organizing team)
Downloadable posters, stickers and banners for the vigils here
Downloadable outreach messaging about the vigils here