HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-08-025 - Report on Earth Day 2008J
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Community Services
Report To: Mayor and Members of Council
Date of Meeting: March 17, 2008
Submitted By: Mark Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs & Services
and Jim Witmer, Director of Operations, Earth Day Committee
Prepared By: Janice Ouellette, Facilitator, Volunteer Resources &
Community Engagement (x 2227}
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: March 10t", 2008
Report Number: CSD-08-025
Subject: REPORT ON EARTH DAY 2008
RECOMMENDATIONS:
For information purposes.
BACKGROUND:
Each year, Earth Day is held internationally on April 22nd. Earth Day Canada (EDC} was
created in 1991 as a national, not-for-profit environmental charity that provides Canadians the
opportunity to make a difference where they live, work and spend their leisure hours. It reaches
out to youth, community and environmental groups, schools, businesses, government
departments, and individuals across the country.
On a global basis, Earth Day's mandate is to create and nurture a popular, highly visible
"window of awareness" in which individual awareness and action are the primary goal.
EDC coordinates and promotes Canada's celebration of International Earth Day every April 22.
In many communities the event has grown into Earth Week or Earth Month. EDC provides
user-friendly interactive programs, an events calendar, print resources and a website
(earthday.ca}.
REPORT:
Once again, the City of Kitchener is an accredited Earth Day Coordinator. The City can access
the resources that Earth Day Canada makes available, use the Earth Day logo and name, and
access the network of other ED Coordinators for ideas or resources. As well, information about
City of Kitchener events will be posted on the Earth Day website.
Report No.CSD-08-025 Page 2
In 2008, the City of Kitchener Earth Day Committee will offer the following initiatives:
- Tim Norton's Community Litter Pick-up -The litter pick-up, organized by City staff, will be
held on Saturday, April 19t" from 10 am to 12 pm in Victoria Park. There is no pre-
registration required ---individuals, families and groups can come out on the day of the event
and participate. Participating high school students can also log hours for their community
service requirements. Tim Norton's generously offers to sponsor this event by contributing
supplies, prizes and significant promotion. All participants are entered into the draw for
various prizes. The grand prize draw is for a mountain bike. In the past we have had an
average of 80- 100 people come out to this event.
20 Minute Makeover -The 20 Minute Make-over was first organized in the Cities of
Kitchener and Waterloo in 2006. In 2007, the City of Cambridge also participated. This
initiative will continue again this year on Friday April 18t" when individuals, businesses, ,City
Hall staff, councilors and other organizations will be encouraged to take 20 minutes from
their busy schedules at or around 2 p.m. to clean up the grounds around their work, schools,
or homes. Groups can register on-line through the City website or by calling 519-741-2227.
The City will provide specially marked bags and gloves along with posters to organizers in
each business. Last year, approximately 3,000 people participated around the region and
we hope to further expand involvement for 2008.
Consulting Firm Challenge -Once again, environmental consulting firms in Kitchener will
be invited to challenge each other in the 4t" Annual Earth Day Challenge. For this
challenge, points are awarded to the consulting firms who have the highest percentage of
employees participating in a litter pick-up, the most unusual piece of garbage, and the
largest amount of garbage collected. Atrophy is awarded to the firm with the highest overall
number of points.
Community Organized Litter Pick-ups-- Community groups, individuals, or
neighbourhoods can also organize their own litter pick-ups. If the City of Kitchener is notified
of these events, city staff record when and where the clean-up is scheduled and the City is
pleased to supply garbage bags, gloves, and garbage pick-up. If these clean-ups are done
any time in the month of April, Tim Norton's will provide the supplies, prizes, and
refreshments. Atip-sheet for organizers of community litter pick-ups is available to all
registering groups. Last year approximately 40 community clean-ups were registered with
City of Kitchener staff.
- Operation Spring Clean -All elementary and secondary public, Catholic and private
schools are invited to participate in Operation Spring Clean. A resource booklet and
package providing an overview of Earth Day activities, Operation Spring Clean up
registration forms and other City of Kitchener environmental events is mailed to all schools.
Schools who decide to participate, register their litter pick-up of their school yard and/or
surrounding area with the City of Kitchener who will provide supplies such as garbage bags,
gloves and, if needed, garbage pick-up. This year all participating schools will have the
chance to win one of five $1000 grants that the winning schools can use to plant trees or
fund other environmentally friendly initiatives at the school.
Report No.CSD-08-025 Page 2
Yellow Fish Road Program -The City of Kitchener's Engineering Division coordinates the
Yellow Fish Road Program which is a nation-wide environmental initiative lead by Trout
Unlimited Canada (TUC}. This program is designed to remind people that everything that
get poured down the storm drain ends up in our water systems which affects fish and fish
habitats. Schools or community groups can borrow a kit from engineering. This kit provides
the group with supplies so that yellow fish can be painted on or near storm drains as well as
literature to make the group and people living in the area more aware of the issue.
Kitchener's Natural Areas Program (KNAP) -Through KNAP, a range of environmental
activities are organized throughout the months of April and May. Continuing the tradition of
successful public events, this year KNAP will hold a public event on Sunday April 20t" from
1-4 pm at Huron Natural Area including environmental education, nature walks, tree planting
and other hands on events -with the focus being on families. In 2007, 800-1000 people
participated on the beautiful sunny day at Breithaupt Park. Weather permitting, we are
looking forward to awell-attend and fun event again this year.
NEW FOR 2008
Earth Hour -- Earth Hour is an initiative launched by the City of Sydney, Australia in 2007. It
caught the attention of the world and the World Wildlife Federation (WWF} has made this a
world wide event for 2008. The purpose of Earth Hour is to help raise awareness about the
issue of climate change by encouraging as many people, businesses and other
organizations as possible to turn off their lights for one hour on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at
8 pm. City of Kitchener staff have worked with neighbouring municipalities to coordinate and
share promotion of the initiative with the community. An article in the most recent issue of
Your Kitchener (distributed to homes on March 13} encouraged citizens to participate. City
staff have also worked internally to encourage and support participation in this initiative
within City facilities. This is a clear opportunity to help build community awareness on
climate change and to demonstrate the corporation's commitment to the environment
through a global initiative.
Living Earth Festival - City staff in Special Events are working with local community
groups to help them to develop their own community initiatives connected to holistic eco-
friendly living. This Living Earth Festival will share inspiration about living in a conscious and
complex human ecosystem, and about interacting with community on meaningful levels to
create powerful and dynamic change. The Living Earth Festival will take place at various
locations in Kitchener Downtown between April 17t" to the 22nd. Some potential events
include the "Warmer" Project Interactive Earthling Exhibit; an Eco-friendly Marketplace
including recycled clothing and goods; a critical mass biking event; "Fudge: the Gathering"
at The Waterloo Region Children's Museum in partnership with Nudge, Conscious Traveler
(Holly Oak Books in Waterloo} and The Exhibit Cafe for a family friendly night of
entertainment and activities; the screening of the documentary "Tableland" and a "Salon"
Chemed on Sustainable Communities. At the time of writing this report, details of specific
events, times and locations were still to be determined.
The 2008 City of Kitchener Earth Day Committee consisted of the following people:
- Colleen Collins, Corporate Communications
Dave Schmitt, Urban Forest Technologist
Report No.CSD-08-025 Page 2
- Christina Mazza, Special Events
Brian Scott, Special Events
v Jenn Grein, Office of the Chief Administrator
Joyce Young, Community Representative, Environmental Advisory Committee
Janice Ouellette, Volunteer Resources & Community Engagement
Berry Vrbanovic, City Councillor & Chair of Environmental Advisory Committee
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None. The program budget exists within current operating budget.
Tim Hortons, the Litter Reduction Task Force, CHYM, NewsTalk 570 and KICX FM and The
Record have generously offered to sponsor City of Kitchener's Earth Day Activities.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Corporate Communications developed a communication strategy for Earth Day 2008 and has
worked closely with the City of Waterloo and the City of Cambridge to coordinate Earth Day
activities and the communication plan for the Cities.
Representatives of the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC} of Kitchener City Council sit
on the Earth Day Planning Committee and provide a communication link to and from EAC.
CONCLUSION:
Earth Day is an excellent opportunity for the City to raise awareness of local environmental
initiatives and concerns and to encourage residents to take action on a local level. City staff
appreciate and look forward to continued support from Council to help grow this initiative.
Mark Hildebrand, Director
Community Programs and Services