April 22 is Earth Day! Check out the list of events, activities, and programs happening at the City this month.
Ongoing
Adopt-A-Street Tree
Become a Tree Steward and help the City achieve our goal of increasing our urban forest canopy to 27% coverage by 2030. Each year we plant over 500 new street trees, and these newly planted trees need regular watering and weeding during the summer months to help them thrive. Learn more: newwestcity.ca/adopt-a-street-tree
Adopt-A-Catch-Basin
Adopt a catch basin in your neighbourhood and help keep it clear of leaves, debris, and litter in order to ensure proper drainage and prevent localized flooding. Bonus: You can name your catch basin and it will appear on the City’s catch basin map. Learn more: newwestcity.ca/adopt-a-catch-basin
WORKSHOPS: EMPOWER ME
Over the past 10 years Energy Save New West has been helping homeowners and businesses become more energy efficient through program services, incentives, and rebates. With the support of Empower Me, they’ve been diligently reaching out to multicultural communities and income-eligible households to invite them to join our efforts in reducing greenhouse gases and protecting Mother Earth for a better future. This year, to help you save energy more easily at home, Empower Me has started distributing FREE Energy Saving Kits to their workshop attendees (online and in-person). Register with Energy Save New West and Empower Me for news on upcoming workshops.
Exhibit: aBIOTIC - Earth Day Curatorial Tours
New Media Gallery | Saturday, April 22, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (drop-in)
Visit the aBIOTIC exhibition and marvel at three international and award-winning art-meets-science installations that encourage us to think about the beauty of natural processes, our planet, and the biosphere. Gallery access is free. Visit newmediagallery.ca for more information.
Events & Programming
EVENT: pORT ROYAL SPRING "BLACKBERRY KNOCKOUT" & NATIVE PLANTING
Holly St (south end), Queensborough | Saturday, April 22, 10:00 am
Join this Earth Day shoreline community event, rain or shine! Bring the family and your rakes, shovels, clippers, gloves, boots, and hats to help fight invasive plant species and garbage build-up along the shoreline trail. Snacks and refreshments will be provided, and some tools, garbage bags, and work gloves will be available. For more info, visit Queensborough Special Programs Committee's Facebook page.
Talk Series: Biospheres + Soundscapes
Online (Zoom) or Anvil Centre | Saturday, April 22, 3:00 – 4:30 pm
A series of three linked talks from Australia, Vancouver, and Bowen Island that will encourage communities to listen to their environment and appreciate our global connections. Through exceptional projects in the arts, research, and conservation, the speakers will touch on how sound allows us to connect with and preserve our ocean biospheres. Join Dr. Leah Barclay, founder of Biosphere Soundscapes, Ruth Simons, Executive Director and Lead for Atl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, and Dr. Mark Nazemi, faculty member at Simon Fraser University’s School of Interactive Arts and Technology and Senior Sound Instructor with New Media Gallery.
Registration is required. Visit newmediagallery.ca/biospheres-soundscapes for more information.
EVENT: Rehearsal for a Forest
New Media Gallery | Saturday, April 29, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Julie Andreyev and Simon Lysander Overstall’s electroacoustic performance provides a living contrast to the aBIOTIC exhibition, where space will be activated by human touch and instruments will be made from tree remnants and technology. Registration is required. Visit newmediagallery.ca/rehearsal-for-a-forest for more information.
Workshop: Field Recording – Bowen Island
Anvil Centre and Bowen Island | Saturday and Sunday, April 29 – 30
Learn about recording sounds in natural environments using a variety of techniques and technologies. Instruction will be held in the Art + Technology LAB on Saturday, 1:00 – 400 pm, and a field visit to Bowen Island on Sunday, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm. A hand-held recording device is strongly suggested. Travel costs for transit to Bowen Island are included in the registration fee of $120.
Register online: ID# 174146
School's Out: Nature Exploration Day (5 - 10 years)
Lower Hume Park | Monday, April 24, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Celebrate Earth day and explore the plants and animals of Lower Hume Park. This full day class will include group games, art activities, STEM challenges and more! Participants must be able to follow instructions and stay within program boundaries. The registration fee is $55.
Register online: ID# 174942