Agenda Package - City of Vernon

CITY OF VERNON SUSTAINABILITY EVENTS
Earth Hour
Eafth Hour began in 2006 as an international initiative in which communities, businesses and
governments around the world turn their lights off for one hour to raise awareness about
energy consumption and carbon emissions. Over 4600 cities and towns and 1.3 billion people
took part in Earth Hour 2010, sending a strong message about conservation and community
engagement.
2011 would be the City of Vernon's fourth year participating in Earth Hour which takes place on
Saturday, March 26from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. As in 2010, a communityevent hosted bythe
City of Vernon would take place at the Bean Scene Coffee House featuring acoustic music and
the promoting the reduction of energy consumption. City departments would continue to work
together in collaboration with Greater Vernon Services Parks, Recreation and Culture to
support Earth Hour by turning off non-essential power sources at City and Regional facilities
during Earth Hour.
Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual event which focuses on the environment and the health of our planet.
Every year on April22 communities around the world celebrate this international event through
awareness raising, community activities and the promotion of sustainability for the benefit of
future generations. Strong youth involvement drives Earth Day events and provides those
involved with the opportunity to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with our future
generations.
Since 2008, the City has hosted a Vernon Earth Day Celebration atthe Civic Plaza. ln 2010,
the youth driven Be the Change Rally, organized by teachers, staff and students of School
District 22, joined the City's event at the Civic Plaza. Spearheaded by local elementary school
classes, this youth rally regularly involves over 500 local students who draw attention to
sustainability and their own community ínitiatives. As in previous years, the 2011 Vernon Eafth
Day celebration would highlight local youth initiatives, transpoftation demand management
(TDM) initiatives, local food initiatives, waste reductíon, healthy lawns and gardens, protection
of our air and water, and more. Due to overlap with Good Friday, the 2011 Earth Day
Celebration in Spirit Square would take place on Thursday, April 21.
Bike to Work Week
ln 2010 Vernon partnered with Bike to Work BC, the Regional District of North Okanagan
(RDNO), the Distríct of Coldstream, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops and the Active
Communities Coordinator of Armstrong and Spallumcheen, to form a Thompson/Okanagan
Bike to Work Week as a subset of the provincial Bike to Work BC campaign. This allowed us to
avoid the conflict of hosting the Commuter Challenge at the same tíme as Bike to Work Week.
The Bike to Work BC website was used for online registration and information for residents of
the Thompson/Okanagan.
ln Vernon, a pancake breakfast and Car versus Bike challenge kicked off the week on Monday
Morning, followed by a Wednesday morning celebration station and continental breakfast for
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