Five Christian activists, including a Catholic nun, were arrested on Wednesday morning during a peaceful protest at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) headquarters in downtown Toronto.
The demonstration, which drew 25 participants from diverse Christian traditions—including Catholic, Anglican, Unitarian, Quaker and other communities—was organised in response to RBC’s ongoing financing of fossil fuel projects, particularly the controversial Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline in British Columbia.
The group processed as a symbolic “mock funeral”, dressed in black and carrying a coffin to represent lives lost and endangered by climate change.
At RBC’s main branch, five participants entered the building to hold a nonviolent prayer vigil while others held signs and offered prayers outside. Police later removed and charged the five with trespassing.
According to The Catholic Register, among those arrested was Sister Mary Ellen Francoeur, who was also detained in 2024 for a similar act of civil disobedience. Speaking through supporters, she described her actions as a moral response to the climate emergency and a call for Christian accountability.
Also present was Rev Michael Van Dusen of Aidan Anglican Church, who said: “This is not just an environmental issue—it’s a matter of loving our global neighbour and protecting the most vulnerable.
“Faith demands more than words. It demands action, even costly action.”
The PRGT pipeline, currently under construction, is slated to carry fracked gas across 800 kilometres of sensitive terrain, affecting over 1,000 waterways and Indigenous territories. It has faced opposition from environmental groups and First Nations communities due to its long-term environmental impact and contribution to methane emissions.