About 100 environmental protesters marched downtown over the noon hour calling on Canada's big 5 banks to stop investing in fossil fuel development.
Several participants wore costumes for the theatrical protest. One woman dressed as the "Rebel Earth Goddess" wearing a gas mask, and riding in a cart as members of the group pulled her along.
Protesters marched down the sidewalk on Yates Street, then up Douglas Street, stopping at the TD, RBC, CIBC, BMO and Scotiabanks as speakers demanded the institutions stop investing in the fossil fuel industry:
"Hundreds of billions of dollars a year into fossil fuel expansion, while our planet is burning and millions of people are being displaced and species going extinct. This is unacceptable!"
The Environmental groups 'Rise and Resist' and 'Extinction Rebellion' estimate over $338-billion has been invested by those banks since 2016.
Protesters want bank clients to move their money to Credit Unions that don't invest in fossil fuels. Susan Quipp decided to close an old account at the TD today, then cut up her card in front of cheering protesters:
" It took me a long time do it, they had it in some sort of inactive thing. Yeah, because I'm part of this!"
Reporter: "And you told them why, what did they say?"
" Oh they were very sweet. They were just employees. They smiled and laughed and handed me a pair of green scissors to cut the card up." (laughter)
Several other participants also destroyed their credit cards.
Protesters -- like Lisa Tyler -- say if banks won't change, then clients should change to a Credit Union that doesn't invest in fossil fuels:
" Well I really think that any action raises awareness. And hopefully it will accomplish the banks to think about what they're investing in, and to hopefully choose to invest more in clean energy."
At one point the crowd blocked traffic, stopping in the intersection at Douglas and Fort Street -- chanting and singing -- as members of the Victoria Police department monitored the situation, and worked to divert traffic. But there were no arrests, and the protest remained peaceful.
The event concluded with a mock news conference featuring a fake CEO who arrived in a limousine.