Schools across St. Albert will take some time out for the planet this Monday as they celebrate Earth Day.
April 22 is international Earth Day, and schools throughout St. Albert have a host of activities planned to raise awareness of environmental issues.
Everyone at Bertha Kennedy will be decked out in blue and green for Earth Day, notes vice-principal Sherry Foote, and will have a healthy “Fruits of the Earth” fruit bowl snack to tie in with their ongoing efforts to promote youth fitness.
Many other schools will get a DVD from J.J. Nearing Elementary detailing the school’s organic recycling program, adds principal Jan Maslyk.
The 25 members of Neil M. Ross’s environment club will hold a school-wide Earth Day festival Monday, says club advisor Carol Strilchuk, one they’ve been working on since January.
Students will learn about plants, pollution and the planet at 10 different activity stations, Strilchuk says, including an endangered animal obstacle course (during which students must imitate an endangered animal) and a trash-sorting game. “They’ll see that there is a small amount of stuff that actually goes into the waste if you recycle properly.” Students will also get a packet of seeds donated by the Enjoy Centre to plant at home.
All of these events, and the fundraising required for them, were organized by members of the club, Strilchuk says. “They’re so excited.”
St. Albert’s Queen of Green coach Melanie Smith says there are many ways folks at home can make a difference this Earth Day.
While many residents are good at recycling, Smith says, most forget about donating or reusing. Unwanted or old dishes, books, games and electronics can all be donated to groups such as the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Clothesline instead of ending up in the trash.
You can also plant a garden. A planter full of herbs not only brightens up your home, Smith notes, but also gives you fresh flavour for vegetables.
“Everyone has a million chargers,” Smith continues, many of which draw power as energy vampires when shut off. Reduce your electricity emissions and power bill by unplugging these chargers when they’re not needed.
Earth Day is a good day to reflect upon what you’re doing for the planet, Strilchuk says. “God gave us an Earth, and we need to take care of it.”
City residents will get a glimpse of the future of transportation next weekend as about 40 electric cars zoom into Edmonton.
The Solar Energy Society of Alberta and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) are holding their third annual electric vehicle showcase this April 27.
The free Future of Transportation Symposium and Car Show will let residents get a hands-on look with 40 electric, hydrogen, and biofuel-powered cars – about twice the number of vehicles that were at last year’s show.
“There are a lot more available now,” says Rob Harlan, executive director of the solar society, when asked about the jump, and a lot more interest in them from the public. “It’s a very popular topic.”
Electric cars were pretty popular in the early 1900s, Harlan says, as evidenced by the 1911 Detroit Electric that will be at the show, but were muscled off the market by cheap fossil fuels. Now, due to concerns about climate change and pollution, electric vehicles are making a comeback. “From a tailpipe standpoint, it’s zero emissions.”
The show features four wicked fast electric cars from Tesla Motors, including the Tesla Model S owned by St. Albert’s Ron Simonsmeier. Two canola-powered jet cars will be there, as will the University of Alberta’s hydrogen-powered Eco-Car.
Also featured are 18 seminars on electric vehicles in Alberta, biofuels, solar power and other topics.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at NAIT. Visit solaralberta.ca for details.
