Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: from city politics to our beloved sports teams, our businesses to our universities, & more!
Anybody else go to the #YegSolidarity Women's March?

What an incredible show of support and solidarity for marginalized communities affected by the incoming Trump administration and the alt-right in general. I was particularly impressed by the incorporation and recognition of First Nations cultures and activists in the demonstrations; it's true that nobody resists harder or more fiercely than Native women. The speeches included voices from women who were Muslim, queer, transgender, black, dual-citizens, and even some "raging grannies".
The audience was likewise very diverse. As a recent migrant to the province, the last time I saw a crowd so diverse was when I was living in Toronto. Most of the marchers were women but some men (like myself) were also present; some wore headscarfs, many more wore pink cat-eared hats. I really can't overstate the diversity of this event, and was more than a little relieved to see quite a few kids holding signs and showing solidarity with their parents.
I was considerably less impressed with the counter-protestors, one of whom spent the period after the main event following around the marchers who remained to discuss the event, repeating MRA drivel and telling the police they ought to be ashamed of themselves; and another group which was ejected after they constantly interrupted the first fifteen or so minutes of demonstrations, including when they interrupted a prayer and moment of silence at the beginning with a (poor) rendition of O Canada.
In all, it was truly a wonderful event and I'm glad I decided to go. Being among a crowd of thousands on a cold winter day singing 'Stand By Me' was certainly an experience that I hope everybody gets to have at some point or another.




I saw the pictures on my Facebook feed, and it looked freaking amazing. Such a huge crowd! Thank you so much for writing this up.
No problem! This was my first time attending an event like this and it was just spectacular.
Glad you got to go @Data_7 thanks for sharing this I hadn't seen anything from Edmonton yet.
Haven't seen much online since I got home either. There were easily over a thousand people there but I was close to the front I've got no idea exactly how many there were. Hopefully there will be a rough estimate in the news tomorrow.
Yeah I've been poking around the web checking out all the sister marches. Hope that we see continued involvement and activism come International Women's Day.
The official estimate was between 2000 and 4000.
Thanks for the update, @Jennie!