With a few exceptions, this year Alberta's capital city did little to recognize an international occasion dedicated to environmental awareness. The reason, in large part, was the cancellation of a central event.
"This year we were physically unable to produce the festival," said the 2010 organizer Janice Boudreau, citing lack of time, volunteers and sponsors as the reasons why.
Earth Day is a worldwide tradition now in its fourth decade and is always celebrated on April 22nd. Despite the absence of a city-wide initiative to help kick off eco-friendly acts, some in Edmonton still found ways to offer kind gestures to the environment.
The Good Earth coffee shop, for example, gave away free brews to people with reusable cups.
"It's such an easy thing to do," said Paul Tonita of the decision to keep a travel mug on hand. "It doesn't take anything to throw it in a bag and bring it with you."
"We want to show our appreciation to people who are actually being aware and conscious of that," seconded Chloe Ha.
Other environmentalists organized a grassroots gathering in Millwoods, organized in ten days. While the turnout was small, those who made it out believe there's power in action.
"We decided we had to do something to promote the environment," said Julie Rice.
Boudreau hopes the festival's absence this year will serve as a wake-up call and will galvanize volunteers and a new found commitment to the cause.
"The reach of course will be larger if you have 10,000 people there and they turn around and go home and have that pebble-in-the-pond effect."
To learn more about the Earth Day initiative, click here.
For information on how you can help make Edmonton's 2012 Earth Day festival a reality, click here.
With Files from Sean Amato
