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Earth Week celebrations continue

It’s been a busy week of earth-friendly events for Summerland residents with more to come during the weekend.

It’s been a busy week of earth-friendly events for Summerland residents with more to come during the weekend. Summerland’s eight-day celebration represents one of Canada’s largest Earth Week celebrations.

The challenges facing our society require action and participating in Earth Week is a positive step towards our commitment of reducing community greenhouse gas emissions in Summerland.

“As a society, we are dependent on fossil fuels to maintain our way of life. By reducing the amount we drive or the amount of electricity or natural gas we use, we lessen our carbon footprint. When you ride your bike in the Earth Week parade or plant vegetation in Dale Meadows Park, you are making a positive contribution to your environment,” said Julie McGuire, planner with the District of Summerland and one of the Earth Week organizers.

On Saturday, April 20, children will be delighted by the many choices of events, including Imagination Station from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Summerland Art Gallery where kids of all ages can create a flower garden from recycled materials.

From there, make your way over to the “Big Red Tent” outside the Summerland Library where families can enjoy a family story-time with puppets and songs, a workshop on how to build a mason bee house, and a performance by Summerland Middle School drama students.

Drop by the mason bee house building workshop anytime between 1 and 2:30 p.m. while story time takes place between 2:30 and 3 p.m.

The Middle School performance of The Simple Life starts at 3 p.m. and will show again at 3:30 p.m.

Also taking place on Saturday is a walking tour by historian David Gregory. History, Geology, Wildflowers and Wildlife of Prairie Valley is a seven-kilometre walk along the Trans-Canada trail from 1 to 4 p.m. starting from the Summerland Rodeo Grounds.

The week will culminate with the seventh annual Earth Day Celebration on Sunday at Dale Meadows Sports Complex from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Enjoy getting your hands dirty for a good cause. Native trees and shrubs will be planted and invasive species will be removed along Prairie Creek.

A display area will feature information on reducing energy consumption, composting, endangered wildlife and habitats, landscaping with native plants, bird boxes, invasive plants, wildlife trees and more.

Free compost will be available at this event, but you must bring your own container and shovel. Kids will be entertained with face painting, crafts and a scavenger hunt.

Or if you would like to try something different, participate in yellow fish storm drain painting — a great way to remind our community to think about water and bring awareness to improving water quality and protecting aquatic habitat.

Advance registration is required if you would like to paint storm drains.

“Earth Week is about residents of Summerland and surrounding areas coming together to have fun and learn more about what they can do to make a difference,” said Lisa Scott, an Earth Week event organizer.

For further information on Earth Week or to register for storm drain painting, visit the website at www.summerlandearthweek.ca or contact Julie McGuire at 250-404-4049 or jmcguire@summerland.ca.