Ahead of G7 summit, protesters gather at Calgary city hall to 'raise our voices'
A sea of people gathered outside Calgary city hall Sunday, some coming alone, others with groups, but everyone shared the same goal of having their message heard ahead of the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis.
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The Municipal Plaza in downtown Calgary is one of three designated protest zones in the city set up as part of the gathering of world leaders.
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The demonstrations included a rally at noon that highlighted Indigenous water right, Calgary's Amhara community calling to end a genocide in their homeland, and around 100 individuals calling for peace in Kashmir.
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Member of Calgary's Amhara community, Yohannes Asfaw, said his group was there to serve as a voice for the voiceless Amhara people, currently in conflict with the Ethiopian Government.
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His group was calling on the G7 leaders to end the conflict and help bring peace to the region.
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'We want peace,' Asfaw said.
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Mary Oxendale Spensley, along with her fellow Calgary Raging Grannies, said it was interesting to be part of the multi-organization rally.
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'As far as I know, we are all here for progressive causes,' Spensley said. 'We are here for human rights.'
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For Diane Houston, she said she originally came to the demonstration zone alone. Not too soon after, Houston became acquainted with others who support the No Kings movement in the U.S., in protest of President Donald Trump's policies and actions during his second presidency.
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Another independent protester, Heather Harrigan, held signs and waved Canadian flags to commuters who honked their support near the rally.
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She said it is wonderful to see the support from community members who shared the same love of Canada.
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'People seem to be understand that when they see our flag, are pro-our country,' she said. 'We live in Canada and we love this country.'
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The Province
4 hours ago
- The Province
Security ramps up, protesters gather as world leaders land in Calgary for start of G7 summit
Hundreds of people chanted and waved signs at designated protest zones in the city, some declaring their anger at those attending the summit an hour away in Kananaskis Demonstrators gather outside Calgary city hall on June 15, 2025, to voice their opinions on various causes on the sidelines of the G7 summit of world leaders in Kananaskis. Brent Calver/Postmedia World leaders began arriving in Calgary for Sunday's start of the G7 summit as hundreds of boisterous protesters demonstrated downtown amid a heavy security presence. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Throngs of people chanted and waved signs at designated protest zones, many directing their anger at U.S. President Donald Trump and other dignitaries attending the summit an hour away in Kananaskis. Several groups totalling about 400 people held rallies outside Calgary City Hall, including demonstrations for Indigenous water rights, peace in Kashmir and an end to violence in Ethiopia's Amhara region. Hundreds of pro-Palestine supporters also joined a procession that marched through downtown, blocking traffic on Macleod Trail and prompting additional road closures. Read More Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting Trump and other leaders of the world's richest democracies for three days of talks at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, where the 2002 G8 gathering was held. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's just awesome to see there's so many different causes being called attention to,' said Leanne Mackenzie, who carried a sign at the city hall rally targeting Trump. 'I'm going to take this opportunity to come here today to call attention to the rest of the G7 world that's here,' Mackenzie added. 'I chose to specifically target fascism and keeping it out of Canada, and showing that this is what we're going towards in the U.S. That's terrifying to me.' Carney is scheduled to meet with Trump early Monday morning. The meeting will take place ahead of the official G7 welcoming ceremony at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge. Leanne Mackenzie holds up a sign protesting fascism at the Calgary Municipal Plaza on Sunday, June 15, 2025 ahead of the G7 summit. Brent Calver/Postmedia Summit officials erected a sign informing demonstrators the rallies were being live-streamed to the G7 summit Kananaskis site 'for the purpose of allowing individuals to be seen and heard.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. City officials designated three protest zones to accommodate demonstrations — at city hall, Enoch/East Victoria Park and another near the Calgary airport. Banff is also bracing for demonstrators, with a rally planned for the town's designated protest site on Monday afternoon. World leaders arrive in Calgary Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was the first to arrive Sunday at Calgary International Airport, followed two hours later by Carney and the Canadian delegation. Carney met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Ottawa Sunday morning before the two left for Calgary. At the airport, Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Premier Danielle Smith and First Nations representatives greeted leaders from the G7 nations and invited non-member countries as they arrived. Smith will also host an evening reception in Calgary on Monday and hold bilateral meetings throughout the summit. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Other G7 members include France, Germany, Italy and Japan, along with the European Union. Also attending at Carney's invitation are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, along with Albanese, and the leaders of Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney is greeted Mayor Jyoti Gondek (not shown), First Nation Chief Darcy Dixon, Premier Danielle Smith and other officials as he arrived in Calgary for the G7 summit in Kananaskis on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia The prime minister was scheduled for back-to-back meetings with Albanese and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Calgary before leaving for Kananaskis, where he was to meet with Treaty 7 First Nations leaders and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Arriving G8 leaders received a traditional Calgary white-hat welcome ahead of the 2002 summit as they were handed a Smithbilt hat on the airport tarmac by then-mayor Dave Bronconnier. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Delegates arriving Sunday did receive a trademark hat and other gifts, but security concerns meant there was no ceremony of western hospitality for the VIP visitors. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is greeted Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith as he arrived in Calgary for the G7 summit in Kananaskis on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia Protesters in Calgary 'very proud to exercise our rights and privileges to protest' Law enforcement officers from across Western Canada have descended on Calgary to help support the security effort for activities relating to the summit. Officers from Vancouver have patrolled the streets of downtown Calgary near city hall, while members of the Tsuut'ina Nation, Edmonton and Winnipeg police services are also expected to assist, working alongside the Calgary Police Service, Alberta Sheriffs and RCMP. In Kananaskis Country, where U.S. military aircraft circled overhead Sunday, the RCMP has established a large, controlled access zone around key summit venues, which lasts through June 18. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. NORAD deployed two CF-18 fighters Sunday morning to intercept a private, fixed-wing, civilian aircraft violating the no-fly zone over the G7 summit site, officials said. Around 11:05 a.m., the unauthorized aircraft entered restricted airspace, triggering a tactical response, the G7 Integrated Safety and Security Group said in a news release Sunday evening. 'After multiple steps were taken to gain the pilot's attention, CANR (NORAD's Canadian region) employed final warning measures to contact the pilot and have them safely land under their own power,' the ISSG said. A spokesperson for the security group couldn't go into details about the rules of engagement, but did say the warning was visual in nature. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'That warning was essentially the last before we'd have to move to something more lethal, frankly,' said Fraser Logan of the G7 Integrated Safety and Security Group. Temporary no-fly zones over Kananaskis and Calgary have been in effect since June 14 because of the G7 summit and will remain until June 17 at 11:59 p.m. In Calgary, Raven McLaren was among a group of protesters at the city hall rally who welcomed the opportunity to protest the visit of Trump, who was the last of the G7 leaders to land in Calgary at around 8:30 p.m. Sunday. 'I'm here in protest today showing my Canadian unity in the face of Donald Trump's threats and attacks against my country,' McLaren said. 'Now that he's here in my country, I feel compelled to be here. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'He's made himself to be the enemy of Canada, and the enemy is in our country,' McLaren added. 'We're a nation of diversity, equity and inclusion, and (Trump) can't take that away from us.' Protesters take part in demonstrations at the Calgary Municipal Plaza on Sunday, June 15, 2025, hours before world leaders were expected to arrive for the G7 summit. Brent Calver/Postmedia McLaren was joined by Tiffany Junghans, who echoed his sentiments. 'The G7 is a very important conference. We're lucky there are so many eyes here,' she said. 'We're very proud to be Canadian and very proud to exercise our rights and privileges to protest.' As protesters ventured outside the designated demonstration zone into the streets of downtown, CPS expressed concern, writing on social media: 'An unauthorized march has occurred and we (are) working with demonstrators to comply with traffic safety rules.' The demonstration interfered with Calgary fire responses, according to Calgary police: 'We've been made aware that two calls for service for Calgary Fire Department were impacted by the demonstration,' CPS wrote on social media. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. By 3:15 p.m., all roads in downtown had reopened and demonstrators had returned to City Hall, according to CPS. 'Several demonstrations occurred in downtown Calgary. Some were lawful, most were peaceful & officers worked to keep everyone safe,' CPS posted in a later update. 'However, some behaviour from demonstrators was not in compliance with the Traffic Safety Act & interrupted emergency services. We will be reviewing all evidence gathered today to determine if any further action is required.' Members of the Calgary police public safety unit were on hand as protesters demonstrate at the Calgary Municipal Plaza on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Brent Calver/Postmedia Road closures in Calgary Calgary police warned all road users to be mindful of motorcades in Calgary and area throughout the duration of the G7 summit. The City of Calgary is warning drivers to expect road closures and delays around the Calgary International Airport and downtown core as leaders and delegates arrive for the summit. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The airport tunnel is closed until June 18, meaning commuters from northeast Calgary will need to find alternate routes. The off-ramp from 19th Street to eastbound Airport Trail N.E. is also closed during this period, though the rest of Airport Trail remains open. A security checkpoint has been set up at the north end of McCall Way N.E., restricting access to airport employees and business traffic only. The city also noted that additional rolling closures may occur as motorcades transport delegates to and from the airport. Dr. Josie Auger, elected leader of Bigstone Cree Nation in Treaty 8, speaks to hundreds gathered in Calgary Municipal Plaza on Sunday, June 15, 2025 ahead of the G7 summit. Brent Calver/Postmedia Meanwhile in Banff, visitors and locals noticed an influx of security in the mountain town by Sunday. Despite excitement from some around the G7, the town itself wasn't any busier than usual, according to one tourist. 'I've seen Banff a lot busier than this . . . I've been here almost five, six times,' said Joanne Morgan, who was visiting Banff with her two sisters from Ireland. Patrick O'Connor, who works in Banff, said the crowds have been normal for this time of year, despite the exciting potential of world leaders visiting Banff. 'It's exciting to know that the top seven leaders of the world economies are here in the area to talk about the world economy,' he said. RCMP guard a checkpoint — the first of several — on Highway 40 on the access route to the G7 Kananaskis summit on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Gavin Young/Postmedia Vancouver Canucks Sports Vancouver Canucks News News
Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
CF-18 jets intercept plane violating restricted air space above G7 site in Alberta
KANANASKIS – Canadian fighter jets were deployed to intercept a private, civilian plane that violated restricted airspace above Kananaskis, Alta., where G7 leaders are gathering for meetings. RCMP say in a news release that the fixed-wing Canadian aircraft entered the restricted area shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday, and NORAD's Canadian region deployed CF-18 Hornet fighter jets to intercept it. The release says that after multiple steps were taken to gain the pilot's attention, 'final warning measures' were used to contact the pilot and have them safely land under their own power. Const. Lauren Mowbray says those measures involved the jets firing warning flares, and the plane was met on the ground by the RCMP and their partners. The release doesn't say where the plane originated or where it landed, noting the matter remains under investigation. It says two NOTAMs, or Notices to Airmen, of temporary air restrictions over Calgary and Kananaskis have been in place since Saturday morning and will continue until noon Tuesday. 'It is every pilot's responsibility to ensure that there are no restrictions in the air space they intend to fly,' the release stated, noting that further information wouldn't be provided at this time. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'These incidents take away resources that could be utilized in police work and securing the summit site.' Mowbray did not have any information on whether the pilot is facing charges. Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting G7 leaders from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Italy, in Kananaskis, southwest of Calgary in the Rocky Mountains. Some leaders of non-member countries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are also set to attend. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2025.
Cision Canada
6 hours ago
- Cision Canada
Readout - Prime Minister Carney meets with President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa Français
CALGARY, AB, June 15, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, ahead of the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. The Prime Minister and the President discussed the strong and growing partnership between Canada and South Africa, with increased co-operation in wildfire management, technology, and trade and investment. The leaders discussed advancing shared priorities under their G7 and G20 presidencies, such as energy security, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and climate resilience, including wildfires. They agreed to enhance economic co-operation between Canada and South Africa. The leaders are looking forward to the G20 Leaders' Summit in November. This document is also available at
