The expanding environmental consciousness of Canadians is well-reflected in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows with an entire week’s worth of events planned to celebrate Earth Day, which takes place each year on April 22.
“We’ve planned six events that start on the preceding Friday,” says Christian Cowley of the CEED Centre, one of the non-profit organizations arranging the week’s events. “The goal is to raise awareness and support for environmental activities.”
On Friday, the first event is the Clean Bin Project movie and discussion with the couple who came up with the challenge – to go for an entire year without creating garbage. This highly entertaining account frames the topic in the global context of garbage, from the floating trash island in the Pacific to art inspired by our throw-away society.
Sunday is the day for saying Goodbye Chums. Join the Kanaka Environmental Education Partners Society (KEEPS) and Metro Vancouver Parks in wishing the chum fry well on their six-month journey to the ocean through our local watershed.
The celebrating doesn’t stop on Monday. Cheers to the Planet: Eat, Drink and be Eco gathers local, sustainable or organic wineries, breweries, dairies and food service providers in the ACT Studio Theatre and lobby. Restaurateurs Mike and Stacy Mulcahy of Big Feast will dish up their distinctive local flavours in support of a restaurant composting initiative. Other district favorites, such as Bruce’s Market and Kingfishers, will show off their culinary expertise alongside distinctive wines and beers from eco-minded producers in the valley and nearby.
Tuesday’s event is the story behind an environmental superstar. Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie will play at the newly renovated Hollywood 3 Cinemas in Pitt Meadows on April 19 at 7 p.m. Theatre-goers will enjoy a complementary soda and bag of popcorn with their tickets to this fundraiser. .
Vanishing of the Bees is the last event of Earth Week. This gripping documentary about colony collapse disorder (CCD) is narrated by Canadian actress Ellen Page, who examines what is happening to the busy honeybees that are so crucial to the food system. Afterward, Maple Ridge beekeepers will entertain questions.
Earth Week
• Clean Bin Project screening, at Maple Ridge council chambers, 7 p.m. on Friday, April 15.
• Celebrate Earth Day festival from 10 a.m. to 2p.m. at Memorial Peace Park on Sat., April 16.
• Goodbye Chums from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bell Irving Hatchery, Kanaka Creek park., Sunday, April 17.
• Cheers to the Planet: Eat, Drink and be Eco in the ACT, 6 p.m. on Monday, April 18. Tickets: $45
• Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19 at Hollywood 3 Cinemas in Pitt Meadows.
• Vanishing of the Bees at Maple Ridge council chambers, 7 p.m. on Friday, April 22.
Info: CEED Centre at 604-463-2229 or info@ceedcentre.org.