Psst…25 days until we switch off for Earth Hour. Can you spare an hour?
By Contributor
For the fourth consecutive year, FortisBC is encouraging families and businesses across the region to switch off, unplug and join millions of people around the world in participating in Earth Hour on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 8:30 p.m.
“Earth Hour is an opportunity to join with others in thinking about the energy we consume, every hour of every day,” said Tom Loski, vice president, customer service, FortisBC. “This year, we hope to see a greater drop and have even more people commit to participate in Earth Hour 2012.”
FortisBC is again sponsoring an Earth Hour Challenge encouraging residents to pledge to turn off all non-essential lighting, appliances and electronics by visiting fortisbc.com/earthhour, or by phoning
1-866-436-7847. Those that pledge are entered to win a weekend away at the Manteo Resort in Kelowna, and the individual pledges will be counted in our community challenge where communities in our region have each appointed a worthy non-profit organization for a chance to win up to a $5,000 energy savings upgrade.
The community with the highest per capita participation rate will win the Earth Hour Challenge, first introduced in 2009 and sponsored each year by FortisBC. The winning community receives bragging rights and their appointed non-profit organization receives the $5,000 energy savings toward their facility upgrade.
Keremeos took the honours in 2011 and their non-profit charity of choice, The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 192, received the prize.
“Winning the Earth Hour Challenge allowed our legion to invest in a new heat pump,” remarked Mike Favel, Secretary/Treasurer for The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 192. “The money we received covered the lion’s share of the cost and we are looking forward to seeing a real difference in our energy consumption over the years.”
The following non-profit organizations are in the running for this year’s $5,000 energy savings upgrade, and will rely on participation pledges from residents in their community to win:
City of Kelowna, Kelowna Gospel Mission
District of Summerland, Summerland Asset Development Initiative
City of Penticton, Shatford Centre – Okanagan School of the Arts
Town of Oliver, Oliver Seniors Centre
Town of Osoyoos, Osoyoos Childcare Centre Society
City of Grand Forks, Sunshine Valley Child Care Society
Village of Midway, West Boundary Housing Society
City of Trail, Trail Family and Individual Resource Centre Society (FAIR)
City of Rossland, Rossland Council for Arts and Culture
City of Nelson, Nelson Cares Society
City of Castlegar, Habitat for Humanity
Town of Creston, Creston Valley Gleaners Association
Village of Salmo, Salmo Public Library
Town of Keremeos, Elks Lodge #56
Town of Princeton, Princeton Exhibition Association
Village of Fruitvale, Beaver Valley Seniors Manor
Village of Kaslo, The Langham Society
For more information about the FortisBC Earth Hour Challenge and to make a pledge, visit fortisbc.com/earthhour.
