How Montreal's climate strike stacks up against major protests of the past

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to march through Montreal today, as part of the Global Climate Strike.

Montrealershave never been afraid to take to the streets, en masse, to demonstrate their opposition to or support for government policies.

Here is a look backin pictures atsome key protests.

1917 conscription crisis

More than a century ago, while Canada was embroiled in the First World War, Montrealers demonstrated their opposition to the 1917 Military Services Act.

Then-prime minister Robert Borden had promised not to compel Canadians to enlist. As the war drew on, he changed his mind and Montrealers took to the streets in protest, en masse.

Similar, but smaller, protests took place during the Second World War as Quebecersagain resisted being enlisted.

1995 unity rally

Just days before the 1995 referendum, federalists from acrossCanada descended onMontreal to show their support for the "No" side as Quebecerspondered whether theywanted to separate.

Hundredsof thousands of people gathered at Place du Canada on Oct. 27, 1995.

Three days later, the"No" side won by a slim victory, with50.58 per cent of the vote.

2003 anti-Iraq war protest

In the days leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, more than 100,000 people took to the streets of Montreal as part of an international anti-war movement.

Canada ultimately did not join the United States in providing soldiers for the invasion in March 2003.

Earth Day 2012

An estimated 200,000 people attended this protest at Jarry Park, whereenvironmental activists converged withstudents protesting against the provincial government's planned tuition fee hike.

The youth-led movement can be seen as a precursor to today's Global Climate Strike, but environmental activism in the province goes back even further.

Maple Spring protests

Student protests against the planned tuition fee increases continued through the spring and intothe summer of 2012, with "days of action" organized on the 22ndof each month.

The government of then-premier Jean Charest passed a special law restricting public demonstrations, but the size of the protests only grew.

2018 anti-racism protest

After the election of Franois Legault, an anti-racism demonstration brought about 50,000 protesters to Montreal's streets. Theysought to denounce the government's plan to ban religious symbols worn by some public servants.

That ban was passed this summer.The government continues to defendthe secularism law, saying it haswide support across the province, and it passed the legislation in orderto settle Quebec's secularism debate once and for all.

2019 Global Climate Strikes

Young people marched last spring in weekly global climate strikes, like thisdemonstration in May in whichtens of thousands of people participated.

Today's march is expected to exceed that turnout. Organizers expectabout 300,000 people to attend.