ESTEVAN - Estevan was among the communities across the country to be part of a One Million March for Children on Wednesday.
A large crowd gathered at the parking lot of the former Mr. Mike's Steakhouse Casual restaurant location Wednesday morning, where they listened to music and a brief speech. Then they walked from the parking lot to the nearby Estevan Comprehensive School before returning to the starting point.
There they listened to more speeches and music before departing.
The protests across Canada have been voicing opposition to what they call gender ideologies and support for parental rights in schools. The rally in Estevan expressed support for the provincial government's recently-introduced policy requiring parental consent for name or pronoun changes for kids under the age of 16 in schools.
People were encouraged to bring their children to the event, and while adults comprised the vast majority of the crowd, some youths were present in Estevan.
Many of the participants toted signs that had such slogans as "Let Kids be Kids", "Leave our Kids Alone" and "Protect Parental Rights".
The event in Estevan was organized by Concerned Citizens SK, a group of people in the southeast.
Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Yorkton and North Battleford were among the other Saskatchewan communities to hold such rallies. Counter protests, organized by LGBTQ+ supporters, were held in some of the Saskatchewan communities and elsewhere in Canada.
The Estevan Police Service reported no problems from the event in Estevan.
The next edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
