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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-10-019 - Earth Day!- • -vmmur+ -~rvFces REPORT TO: Mayor and Members of Council DATE OF MEETING: March 22, 2010 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 5, 2010 REPORT NO.: CSD-10-019 SUBJECT: EARTH DAY 2010 RECOMMENDATION: 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. It reaches out to youth, community and environmental groups, schools, businesses, government departments, and individuals across the country to make a difference where they live, work and spend their leisure hours. 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. Once again, in 2010, the City of Kitchener, through the Earth Week Planning Committee, has organized a variety of activities, events and opportunities for community members to get involved, learn about and take a role in caring for their environment. 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and the Earth Week Planning Committee is working harder than ever to ensure that opportunities for engagement are inclusive and diverse, that events and activities push participants to consider earth day as everyday, and that community members are provided with information on how to be part of truly sustainable change, beyond the month of April. 4e)-1 REPORT: In 2010, the City of Kitchener Earth Day Committee will offer the following initiatives: -Earth Hour -- Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. In 2009, over 4000 cities in 88 countries (and hundreds of millions of people) switched off their lights in an inspiring visual display to pledge their support for the planet, to show what can be done through combined efforts, to encourage leadership through behavioural change and to demonstrate the growing desire around the world to make those changes a reality. Earth Hour 2009 was the world's largest global climate change awareness initiative. On March 27th, 2010 from 8:30 - 9:30 pm, city staff will power down lighting and non- essential electrical equipment, with the exception of safety lighting or where facility spaces are rented out for special events. Staff will also encourage community participation through web-sites, posters and radio ads and through partnering with the Record and cities of Waterloo and Cambridge with promotions. Community members are encouraged to register their commitment on the Earth Hour web-site to be counted with others across the world and make their voices heard. A local community group will be holding an event in civic square to bring people together in collective action. -CLEAN-UPS- Research shows that when community members get involved in cleaning their neighbourhoods, parks and open spaces, they are less likely to litter and are more likely to keep it clean! Community clean-ups are easy ways to get many people involved and thinking about the environment. They bring neighbours, colleagues or classmates together in a common cause. They provide an opportunity to see how a small act for a short time can have a large physical impact and they may help participants develop a sense of their influence on their environment. The Earth Week Planning Committee has decided to continue to provide the following litter pick-up opportunities this year. 20 Minute Makeover - (Friday April 16th) Individuals, businesses, city staff, Councilors and other organizations are 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 who register with the City of Kitchener receive clean-up supplies. Last year, over 32 businesses and 900+ people in Kitchener participated and the City of Kitchener had the highest staff participation ever (over 310 staff took part). Tim Hortons Community Clean-Up - (Saturday, April 17th from 10 am to 12 pm in Victoria Park). Individuals, families and groups are invited to come out on the day of the event and participate - there is no pre-registration required. Tim Hortons generously sponsors this event by contributing refreshments, supplies, prizes and significant promotion. In 2009, approximately 150 people participated in this event. Event organizers and volunteers will be encouraging participants to make full use of our community's ability to recycle and compost. Volunteers will be conducting short surveys with participants to determine the impact of their involvement and possible behaviour changes for their day-to-day lives. Community Organized Litter Pick-ups. Community members are invited to organize their own litter clean-up of a public space, parks and trails. Those who register with the City of Kitchener Volunteer Resources receive free clean up supplies and resources. Clean-ups completed during the month of April will also receive Tim Hortons t-shirts and a gift card. This year, each participant will have the opportunity to be entered into a draw for a mountain bike also supplied by Tim Hortons. Last year approximately 44 4e)-2 community clean-ups were registered with City of Kitchener staff and over 925 community members participated. School Clean-ups -All elementary and secondary schools are invited to participate in the Spring School Clean-up. Resource information, registration forms and information on all City of Kitchener environmental events are sent to all schools. Schools who decide to participate register with the City of Kitchener Volunteer Resources who will provide supplies and support. This year all participating schools will have the chance to win a grant to fund environmentally friendly initiatives at their school. Last year, 43 schools participated, engaging approximately 10,000 students. 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. The Living Earth Festival applies community outreach and engagement of programming partners to promote awareness of environmental issues, human ecosystems and sustainability. The Living Earth Festival will explore and celebrate our connection with each other and with the Living Earth by helping participants engage with their own ecology. Victoria Park, Kitchener City Hall, and Your Kitchener Farmers Market will host community- organized fairs, parades, workshops, film screenings, movement events, local musicians and performing artists from April 22nd to April 25th. Some events this year include: • The Procession of the Species parade (Apr.24t`', gam - 2 pm, along King St. to Victoria Park) -Kitchener-Waterloo will host their first annual Procession of the Species Parade on April 24, 2010. Procession of the species is a community arts-based Earth Day celebration where people flood the street to flaunt their favourite species or natural element whether it is flora, fauna or fungi. Procession is not just about the parade. It is also about bringing the community together in the weeks beforehand with FREE workshops to help prepare and to learn. • Bloomin' Earth Artisan Market and Fashion Show (Apr.24th, 10am - 4pm, Your Kitchener Farmers Market) -Designers will turn a bag of pre-loved clothing provided by Value Village into a fabulous wardrobe as the 3rd Annual Bloomin' Earth artisan. Aiming for 70 eco- friendly vendors, artists and demonstrators, it will spread out along King Street and on the piazza. • Earth Day Eco Showcase (Apr.24th, 12 - 5 p.m. Kitchener City Hall Rotunda) - Presented by Residential Energy Efficiency Project CREEP) an environmental non-profit working towards healthier homes and sustainable communities, and the University of Waterloo, Faculty of Environment, the event will feature exhibitors, activities and special guest speakers at the showcase. More details including links to the Living Earth Festival partners, and updates on programs in development can be found at livingearthfestival.org -Kitchener's Natural Areas Program (KNAP) -Through KNAP, a range of environmental activities are organized which focus on engaging the community in environmental stewardship projects, increasing environmental literacy and awareness, and creating opportunities for people to discover and experience nature in the City. 4e)-3 • Throughout the year, the City of Kitchener partners with Trout Unlimited Canada to offer the Yellow Fish Road program. This program is delivered to community and school groups in different areas of the city and involves painting "yellow fish" symbols on storm drains and distributing educational materials about the impacts of pollution. • Laurentian Wetland public event at 7 pm on April 22nd. This program will feature an indoor slideshow presentation (at W.T. Townsend Public School, 245 Activa Ave.) followed by an outdoor hike in the neighbouring Laurentian Wetland. Participants will be able to learn about wetlands and see some of the local plants and animals. • Once again, KNAP will also be holding their free public Earth Day event on Saturday April 24th from 1-4 pm at Huron Natural Area, 801 Trillium Drive. This family-oriented event will feature hands-on educational activities including live birds of prey demonstrations, tree planting, bird house building, kids' crafts, music and entertainment as well as guided nature walks. In 2009, over 500 people participated in this event. NEW THIS YEAR - The Cube- From April 16th to the 25th, the digital Cube at City Hall will portray images of our planet and the vast resource that is our collective responsibility. Slides will encourage community members to participate in earth day events held across the City of Kitchener and to take action and make behaviour changes in their daily lives. - Follow-up and Support for Sustainable Change- Wherever feasible, Earth Week Planning Committee members will provide information to participants on environmentally sustainable actions which they can commit to beyond an hour or day each year and will follow up with participants to assess impact of participation and to support environmental awareness and sustainable change. For one-year trial period, the City of Kitchener is also participating in the Earth Day Canada 'EcoAction Teams' (EAT) program. The City of Kitchener will encourage Kitchener households to reduce their eco-footprint by participating in this interactive on-line experience that identifies simple actions to take to reduce household energy and water use, waste production, and greenhouse gas emissions. The cornerstone of EAT's program is a sophisticated, online, self-administered "calculator" that provides participants with details of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, and energy, waste, water and economic savings by way of a personalized online report based on EcoAction activities undertaken by the participants. Though Your Kitchener, the City's website and print material at all earth day and other local events, City of Kitchener residents will be given information on how to access the "calculator" and learn how to reduce household energy use, conserve water, reduce transportation fuel use, save on home heating and cooling, and learn how to shop, cook and garden more sustainably. They will also be aware of any economic savings as a result of their program activities. The City will have the opportunity to capture and calculate combined GHG emission, water, energy and waste reductions by geographic region (e.g., postal code). - Connections to the Strategic Plan for the Environment and the Plan for a Healthy Kitchener The Earth Week Planning Committee has ensured that the goals and objectives of each individual event propels us forward as a corporation towards meeting the Environmental direction of a Plan for a Healthy Kitchener and the specific goals of a the Strategic Plan for the Environment: 4e)-4 ENERGY SYSTEMS •To lead by example, and build public awareness, educate and encourage the community to reduce energy use and / or switch to alternative energy sources NATURAL HERITAGE AND RECREATION AMENITIES •To promote a culture of stewardship throughout the community and with all of our partners AIR QUALITY •To reintroduce, enhance and maintain the natural environment in the urban area •To lead by example, and build public awareness, educate and encourage the community to implement measures to reduce polluting emissions in cooperation with all levels of government and all appropriate partner organizations. EDUCATION & PUBLIC A WARENESS •To promote an environmentally healthy lifestyle through the development of strategies to increase environmental literacy, through the implementation of effective monitoring programs and through the introduction of cooperative public outreach initiatives. •To act on opportunities to promote and where possible introduce cooperative education and public awareness programs aimed at the development of an environmentally healthy lifestyle. To publicly celebrate environmental success stories. The 2010 City of Kitchener Earth Day Committee consisted of the following people: - Breanna Pilon, Youth Services - Brian Scott, Special Events - Carrie Musselman, Environmental Planning - Colleen Collins, Corporate Communications - Jenn Grein, City Green - Jennifer Zunic, Special Events - Joshua Shea, Kitchener Natural Areas - Marla Pender, Youth Services - Simone Smith, Community Representative, Environmental Advisory Committee - Janice Ouellette, Volunteer Resources & Community Engagement - Berry Vrbanovic, City Councillor & Vice-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 2010 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. 4e)-5 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 and thus help the corporation work towards the goals of the Environmental Strategic Plan for the City of Kitchener. City Staff appreciate and look forward to continued support from Council to help grow this initiative. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services 4e)-6