Vaughan goes dark for Earth Hour March 29

Vaughan Weekly
February 26, 2014
Submitted by the Earth Hour Vaughan Committee

It may seem like a small act - turning off your lights for one hour - but that small act, when replicated by tens, hundreds, thousands, or millions of people, can send the most incredible environmental message and can galvanize action on a truly global scale.

In March 2007, residents, businesses and local governments in Australia did just that - they turned off their lights for one hour to bring attention to the issues of energy conservation and climate change. One year later, in March 2008, “Earth Hour” had become a worldwide sensation and the single-largest global grassroots environmental movement promoting energy conservation.

Hosted by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour is now held every year in communities, towns and cities all over the world. In 2013, more than 7,000 communities in 153 countries across seven continents participated. In Canada, more than 13 million Canadians took part that’s 13 million “small” acts that when combined, demonstrate the strong commitment of Canadians to a better future for our nation and our global environment.

We all know that the challenge of climate change is much larger than just one hour of energy conservation. Even if everyone on the planet turned off their lights for Earth Hour, we would still face the progressive rise of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions, increased severity of weather events, melting sea ice and a warming Arctic. But Earth Hour is not meant to solve all of these global environmental issues. Instead, Earth Hour is a symbolic event, a grassroots movement and a collective message that champions the need for global action on climate change. Earth Hour is about the engagement of tens of millions of people - perhaps one day, billions of people - all over the world in a concerted and collective effort for energy conservation. Earth Hour provides each of us with the opportunity to take action in our communities on climate change and to pursue a more sustainable way of life.

Earth Hour Vaughan 
Here in Vaughan, Earth Hour has been celebrated for the past six years. Last year, the 2013 Vaughan Earth Hour celebration at Vaughan City Hall attracted several hundred people. For one hour, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Vaughan City Hall and many participating businesses, institutions and residential homes went dark, turning off their lights in recognition of Earth Hour. During this “black out” PowerStream reported that Vaughan reduced its energy consumption by 8.6 per cent or 27 megawatts. That’s enough energy to power 817 average-sized homes for 24 hours.

Vaughan goes dark
The 2014 Earth Hour Vaughan event at Vaughan City Hall will feature the customary “lights out” hour but it will also be an evening full of environmental activities and excitement for all ages. The event will host an environmental and energy conservation showcase, featuring a variety of exhibitors offering energy technologies and solutions to Vaughan residents. During the evening, Vaughan high school students will compete in an environmental Jeopardy game, demonstrating their environmental awareness, understanding and knowledge. Resident cyclists will participate in a cycling night ride and local environmental group Vaughan C.A.R.E.S. will lead a guided lantern walk throughout neighbourhoods adjacent to Vaughan City Hall. The night will also feature a variety of entertainment acts, refreshments, prizes, and much more. The 2014 Earth Hour Vaughan event will be a night of collective action for energy conservation and a truly unique Vaughan experience.

Join us on March 29,  for Earth Hour Vaughan starting at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.earthhourvaughan.ca or contact the Vaughan Earth Hour Committee c/o Jamie Maynard, maynard.insurance@on.aibn.com.