Canada celebrates 40 years of Earth Day on April 22

Earth Day celebration on Whidbey Island, Washington
Photo by Sue Frause

Canadians, along with other eco-conscious citizens of the world, will be celebrating Earth Day on April 22. 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and the 20th anniversary of Earth Day Canada. Across Canada, there are numerous events. Here are just a few, from west to east:

Victoria, BC: Earth Walk 2010 - The family friendly event invites people to assemble at the BC Legislature grounds at noon on Saturday, April 24 for the 12:30 PM parade. The short route will be along Government Street to Centennial Square, where there will be information booths by grassroots organizations, along with live music. There are dozens of other Earth Day events around the province.

Calgary, Alberta: Earth Week Book Swap - The David Suzuki Foundation Book Club is hosting the book swap at local coffee shops across Canada, including Higher Ground in Calgary. From 6-9 PM on Thursday, April 22. Bring in your books to swap with other locals (and bring your own mug for a free coffee or tea).

Craik, Saskatchewan: Earth Day Film Festival - Held April 23-25 and sponsored by the Saskatchewan Eco Network. The Craik Sustainable Living Project is located here.

Winnipeg, Manitoba: Green Knitting - Who knew there was such a thing? Attend a lecture by Joanne Seiff on April 22 at 7 PM at the Manitoba Crafts Museuma and Library. Seiff is a long-time knitter who authored the book Knit Green: 20 Projects and Ideas for Sustainability.

Oakville, Ontario: Earth Week Clean Up of Oakville Waterways and Green Spaces - Now in its 19th year, community members clean up 30+ nature sites. Bags and gloves are donated by the Town of Oakville. Raffle prizes!

Quebec: Free transit rides - Ride two for one on April 22 on buses, trains and subways in Quebec's urban centers.

Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia: Sackville River Fishway Cleanup - On Saturday, April 24, help clean out the rocks and debris that have washed into the fishway over the winter. The fishway helps Atlantic salmon reach important habitat in the Sackville River Watershed. 9AM-2PM.

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island: Climate Change Networking Session - Held at the University of PEI, the day includes presentations on the latest developments and research on climate change mitigation and adaptation on Prince Edward Island.

St. John's, Newfoundland - Earth Day Fair at the Fluvarium: The Earth Day celebration on April 22 will show people how to make simple changes to reduce your impact on the Earth.