Lots to do to Celebrate Earth Day
By Ann Damude
Rosslanders can celebrate Earth Day all week by participating in fun, family oriented activities organized by local community groups and co-ordinated by the Sustainability Commission. This year, celebrations include the annual Rossland Real Foods Chicken and Compost Crawl, a special Shop Local, Eat Local themed Rossland Mountain Market, a Pitch In community litter clean-up, free kids activities at the Museum and Library, the return of the Centennial Trail Doggie Doo Waa and the launch of a No Idling awareness campaign.
“Celebrating Earth Day helps us recognize the importance of our natural environment and gives the whole community an opportunity to give back to the planet.” said Sustainability Commission Chair Tara Howse. “This year the Sustainability Commission is inviting community members to participate in the Pitch In litter clean up and the Doggie Doo Waa. When you drop off your litter at our dumpster at the Centennial trailhead parking lot on Saturday between 10am- 2 pm, we’ll enter you to win some Green prizes. ”
New to this year’s Earth Day Celebrations is the Sustainability Commission’s Idling Gets Us Nowhere campaign. The City of Rossland passed a No Idling by-law last year that requires drivers to turn off their engines when their vehicle is parked. In the past month, new No Idling signs have been installed in locations throughout the community where idling is most common.
“Our community has a strong interest in decreasing our greenhouse gas emissions,” explains Kim Klassen, Energy Task Force member. “Our Idling Gets Us Nowhere ambassadors will be in the downtown this Saturday to talk with drivers about the benefits of turning off your vehicle engine. Drivers who commit to not idle their vehicles will receive a free Green gift.”
For a full schedule of Rossland’s Earth Day celebrations, visit the Rossland Sustainability Commission website at http://www.visionstoaction.ca/earth-day. The Chicken Crawl map can be found at the Rossland Library or downloaded at http://ow.ly/4mRNs7
