Environmental advocate David Suzuki celebrated his 90th birthday during a stop in Mississauga on Tuesday while touring southern Ontario with his wife, Tara Cullis.
The couple is on their “Stronger Together” tour, which brings communities together to talk about climate change, emergency preparedness, and supporting one another. Their visit also coincides with a stage play about their 50-year partnership in environmental work. Before the event began at the Carmen Corbasson Community Centre, organizers surprised Suzuki with a birthday cake and sang to him.
Suzuki, known for his long career in science and environmental education, said he has no plans to slow down. He encouraged older adults to stay active and share their life experiences with others, calling it the most important time of their lives.
He also warned that climate change is getting worse, with more floods, heat waves, and wildfires. In recent years, Mississauga has faced extreme weather, including a major flood in 2024 and poor air quality from wildfire smoke.
Suzuki said communities need to be better prepared for emergencies, since governments may not always be able to respond quickly enough. He pointed to countries like Finland as an example, where residents are encouraged to be ready for disasters.
Local leaders and residents at the event shared ideas on how to improve climate readiness, highlighting the importance of working together at the community level.
