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Home My WebLink AboutCSD-09-028 - Earth Day 2009Report To: Kitchener City Council Date of Meeting: April 6, 2009 Submitted By: Mark Hildebrand, Director, Community Programs & Services ~x 2687) Prepared By: Janice Ouellette, Facilitator, Volunteer Resources & Community Engagement (x 2227} Ward(s~ Involved: All Date of Report: March 30, 2009 Report Number: CSD-09-028 Subject: REPORT ON EARTH DAY 2009 RECOMMENDATIONS: For information. BACKGROUND: First launched as an environmental awareness event in the United States in 1970, Earth Day (April 22) is celebrated internationally as the birth of the environmental movement. In Canada, Earth Day has grown into Earth Week and even Earth Month to accommodate the profusion of community events and projects. 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 April in which individual awareness and action are the primary goal. REPORT: Once again, in 2009, the City of Kitchener is an accredited Earth Day Coordinator, and, through the Earth Day Planning Committee, has organized a variety of activities, events and ways for community members to get involved, learn about and take a role in caring for their environment. In 2009, the City of Kitchener Earth Day Committee will offer the following initiatives: -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 2009. The purpose of Earth Hour is to raise awareness about climate change by encouraging as many people, businesses and organizations as possible to turn off their lights for one hour, showing that we can all take simple steps to help reduce our environmental footprint. On March 28th, 2009 from 8:30 - 9:30 pm, city staff powered down lighting, computers and other non-essential electrical equipment, with the exception of safety lighting, or in the cases where facility spaces were rented out for special events. Staff also encouraged citizens, other businesses, and organizations to participate in this initiative through web-sites, posters and radio ads and through partnering with the Record and cities of Waterloo and Cambridge with promotions. -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 17th when individuals, businesses, city 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, over 37 businesses and 235 people in Kitchener participated. -Tim Hortons Community Clean-Up -The litter pick-up, organized by City staff, will be held on Saturday, April 18th 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 Hortons generously offers to sponsor this event by contributing supplies, prizes and significant promotion. In 2008 we had approximately 180 people come out to this event. -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 from April 22nd to April 26th. Some events include the Blooming Earth Festival, Saturday April 25th from 8 am to 2 pm, at the Kitchener Market featuring an artisan marketplace, "Eco-Network" of community agencies and eco- conscious raising activities; BEEP presentation and eco-fair at Kitchener City Hall Rotunda and more. Details can be found at livingearthfestival.org -Community Organized fitter 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 Hortons 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. -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 Saturday April 25th from 1-4 pm at Huron Natural Area, 801 Trillium Drive. This is a family celebration that includes: build a KNAP Bird Box (available to the 1st 100 families), Kids KNAP bird silhouettes, nature walks, displays, plant a tree on Earth Day, and KNAP's main event will be Canadian Raptor Conservancy with live birds of prey shows at 1, 2 & 3 p.m. In 2008, over 350 people participated. - School Clean-ups -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 are 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 a grant to fund environmentally friendly initiatives at their school. Last year 47 elementary schools participated. -Consulting Firm Challenge -Once again, environmental consulting firms in Kitchener will be invited to challenge each other in the 5th 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. NEW THIS YEAR -Lunch and Learns -Hear local guest speakers, have a great lunch and enter to win prizes. From noon to 1 pm April 22nd - 24th at the Kitchener Market; -Movie Screening of the Documentary Garbage! The Revolution Starts at Home. The City of Kitchener is hosting the screening of this award winning documentary film on families and the environment to students from our local schools on Wednesday April 8, 2009 at 10:OOam. The screening, being held at the Cineplex Odeon Fairway Centre Kitchener 500 Fairway Road South, is presented by Tim Hortons. The movie follows a typical family on their three month journey, as they sort and store all of their garbage in the family garage. This 45 minute movie challenges its viewers to think about how their actions and reactions affect our planet and the lives of future generations. Andrew Nisker is the Canadian writer and director will be present to introduce the film and discuss its key messages afterwards during a Question and Answer session with students. There will also be a recycling station and information booths onsite. The 2009 City of Kitchener Earth Day Committee consisted of the following people: - Brian Scott, Special Events Christy Roettele, Corporate Communications - Christina Mazza, Special Events - David Erb, Community Representative, Environmental Advisory Committee Dave Schmitt, Environmental & Urban Forest Project Manager - Eric Schneider, Kitchener Youth Action Council - Janice Ouellette, Volunteer Resources & Community Engagement - Berry Vrbanovic, City Councillor & Chair of Environmental Advisory Committee FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Expenses will be paid out of an already existing budget allocated specifically for Earth Week Activities. Tim Hortons, the Litter Reduction Task Force, CHYM, NewsTalk 570 and The Record have generously sponsored City of Kitchener's Earth Day Activities. COMMUNICATIONS: Corporate Communications developed a communication strategy for Earth Day 2009 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 appreciates and look forward to continued support from Council to help grow this initiative. Mark Hildebrand Director of Community Programs and Services