ClimateFast Hosts Cross-Country Unicyclist in Toronto on 5,000km Ride for Climate Action

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ClimateFast Hosts Cross-Country Unicyclist in Toronto on 5,000km Ride for Climate Action

August 24, 2014

Joseph Boutilier has been on the road since April 5, traversing western and central Canada on one wheel in an attempt to raise the profile of the climate crisis in advance of the 2015 federal election. Boutilier will unicycle through Richmond Hill before arriving in Toronto, where he’ll spend a week meeting with journalists, politicians, environmental groups and other supporters, before carrying on through Oshawa and Kingston en route to his final destination: Parliament Hill.

ClimateFast has been organizing national events and protests since 2012 to raise awareness of the climate crisis and spur political action on the issue. They will host Boutilier for an open potluck, presentation and discussion at 6pm on August 28 the Friends Centre in downtown Toronto (60 Lowther Ave.). Other events include a morning meet & greet at the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts at 10:45am on August 26, participation in Critical Mass on the evening of Friday the 29th, and a gathering of cyclists for Boutilier’s departure along the Waterfront Trail from the Rouge Hill GO Station at 10:45am on Saturday the 30th.

On the course of his 5,000km ride, Boutilier has cycled and walked on cement, gravel, mud and snow through blazing sun and torrential rainstorms and thunderstorms. Highlights include navigating 5,000-foot summits through the stunning mountain passes of the Crowsnest Highway in BC and taking in the sights along Lake Superior and Georgian Bay. But Boutilier says his favourite part is meeting people in the hundreds of diverse communities he’s passed through. “It feels like there’s a real shift underway,” says Boutilier. “People are worried about the future, but they’re also paving their own way to sustainability; there’s a lot of amazing, grassroots initiatives to improve our environment,” he says. Boutilier says the support for his cause has been “tremendous.”

“I can’t wait to meet and collaborate with so many amazing advocates for climate action in Toronto,” notes the unicyclist. “I’ve known some of these people since before I left on this crazy adventure, but to meet them in person for the first time and share our passion for this cause will be powerful.” Boutilier expects the conversation to turn to the many calls for climate action planned for next month, and hopes to meet many of the same people as the issue of global warming is solidified as a key part of the national conversation in the 2015 federal election campaign.

At 12pm on September 15, Boutilier will join with others on Parliament Hill in a national call for the federal government to mitigate Canada’s significant contributions to the problem, and for other parties to solidify their commitments and demonstrate a willingness to work across party lines to address the climate crisis. On September 21, Boutilier will join thousands from Toronto and Ottawa as they descend on New York City for Climate March; a protest outside the next international UN climate conference. ClimateFast (climatefast.ca) holds its annual 4-day fast for climate action – plus panel discussions and workshops on the issue - starting September 28. “If the government thinks people are going to accept its irresponsible inaction on climate change in this country,” Boutilier says, “they’re in for a big shock.”

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES IN TORONTO

10:45am August 26, 2014
Richmond Hill ON: Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St.
Meet & greet with Joseph Boutilier; hear about his 5,000km unsupported unicycle ride from Victoria BC to Ottawa to call for government action on climate change!

3pm (TBD) August 26, 2014
Call Joseph Boutilier or check live GPS tracking via www.unityfortheclimate.ca to meet Joseph as he rides into Toronto.

6pm (Potluck), 7pm (Presentation) August 28, 2014
Toronto ON: Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave.
Join ClimateFast organizers for an open potluck as they host Joseph Boutilier, who will share photos, videos and experiences from the journey, followed by an open discussion on climate issues in Canada.

6pm August 29, 2014
Toronto ON: Spadina and Bloor
Boutilier will participate in the monthly Critical Mass bike ride through downtown Toronto.

11:45am August 30, 2014
Toronto ON: Rouge Hill GO Station
Cyclists will join Boutilier from his departure from Toronto to Oshawa via the Waterfront Trail.
Contact for additional media opportunities, TBD.

ABOUT UNITY FOR THE CLIMATE
Boutilier has ridden his customized unicycle unsupported through 5 Canadians provinces and 3 US states over the course of his 5 month journey to demand climate action, a respect for First Nations treaty and inherent land rights and an end to the muzzling of publicly funded scientists.

ABOUT CLIMATEFAST
ClimateFast is hungry for climate leadership, and calls upon the Canadian government to address climate change. Upon release of this newest IPCC report, Rajendra Pachauri warns that climate change is happening now, on every continent and in every ocean; no human will be spared its consequences. Canada must pull its weight by drastically reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, cutting emissions well below the inadequate targets it has so recklessly set and is already missing. ClimateFast calls upon every politician to pledge to work to put an end to fossil fuel subsidies, to put a price on carbon, and to develop a renewable energy plan for Canada. We have fasted on Parliament Hill for 12 days annually since 2012, and now take part in the international Fast for the Climate; we will return to Parliament Hill again this fall,September 29-October 2nd, hungry for climate justice. Stand with us.

For more information contact:
Joseph Boutilier
Organizer
Unity for the Climate
Phone: 7789222531
Email: unityfortheclimate@gmail.com
Website: www.unityfortheclimate.ca/

Lyn Adamson
Organizer
ClimateFast
Phone: 4167316605
Email: lyn.adamson9@gmail.com
Website: www.climatefast.ca

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