The community came out, the rain held off, and Earth Art was everywhere for this year’s Celebrate Earth Day festival in Maple Ridge!
This year, Earth Day Partnered with the ARTS! A HUGE thank you to our 2013 partner, the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council! From the tents full of Art Studio Tour artists displaying their talent and giving demonstrations to Maple Ridge Dance Circle’s dancers performing throughout the site, Saturday, April 20, 2013 was a day to remember. The tunes of Penelope Above and musicians at the Farmer’s Market kept the park alive with music and people gathered to hear eco-stories from the Maple Ridge Library inside the big Fish Tent in the ACT Lobby. Flash mobs were everywhere, including Robyn Picard’s swing dancers and the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society’s Spanish Dancers, Dancing Stars, and Zumba Gold.
Eco-Art connections were everywhere at Earth Day! The Maple Ridge Environmental School invited people to participate in Found Art and by the end of the day had created a beautiful mandala (roughly translated as “circle art”) out of leaves, flowers, pinecones, horsetails, and other pieces of nature. The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council, Ridge Meadows Recycling, & Cinema Politica presented Eco-Films at the ACT and the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association displayed electric vehicles with colourful artistic decaling.
Two favourites from last year’s event, the Family Freecycle and the Cycle Recycle, grew even bigger this year. The Family Freecycle was held in the Greg Moore Youth Centre. “Last year we collected and gave away the equivalent of ¾ of a cube van full of gently used books, toys, and clothing – this year we gave away the equivalent of 1½!” said Freecycle Coordinator Tanis Green.
“It was definitely another great Earth Day,” said Jackie Chow from HUB: Your Cycling Connection, “We gave away 15 bikes in this year’s Cycle Recycle. My biggest regret is – as always – that I never have enough time to look at everything else that’s going on!”
“We can report a very good day,” added Eileen Dwillies, manager of the Haney Farmer’s Market, “Over 3000 people attended again this year – our counter couldn’t keep up! Sales were one third more than last year and we had very happy concession and food vendors.”
With this year’s success under their belts, organizers can start to look forward to celebrating the Haney Farmer’s Market’s 10th Anniversary with next year’s Earth Day theme, “Food!”
5) Adopt-A-Block with Elizabeth Hancock – Painting
Zumba Gold at Earth Day 2013, photo by Amber Light PhotographyMaple Ridge Environmental School Found Art Mandala, photo by Amber Light PhotographyArt Innovators’ Public Art Mural at Earth Day 2013, photo by Amber Light Photography
HUB: Your Cycling Connection’s Cycle Recycle at Earth Day 2013, photo by Amber Light PhotographyCandace Gordon & Eileen Dwillies of the Haney Farmers Market, photo by Amber Light PhotographyLadybug Eco-Craft at Earth Day 2013, photo by Amber Light Photography
On Saturday, April 20 at 10am, the most vibrant, arts-filled Earth Day celebrations ever seen in Maple Ridge will kick off in Memorial Peace Park, the ACT Arts Centre & Theatre, & the Greg Moore Youth Centre. Environmental, community, and arts groups have come together to make this a day to remember. For 4 hours the event site will be filled with flash mobs, music, art, stories, poetry, crafts, food, laughter, wonder, and so much more. Come early to avoid disappointment!
Whether you’re renewing your RMRS membership, the greenery in your yard, or your commitment to live simply and reduce your waste, this month’s newsletter has lots of good info. Learn more about our special guests at Ridge Meadows Recycling’s Annual General Meeting, Tuesday, April 2 at the ACT and check out the latest exciting updates on Earth Day celebrations (10am – 2pm on Saturday, April 20) as Earth Day Partners with the ARTS!
Another year with LOTS in store! This month’s newsletter highlights the idea of “Re-Think.”
Along with some easy & green eco-resolutions, our Vice-President Leigh Hodgins writes about making conscious decisions as a consumer.
Mark lots of exciting upcoming events on your calendar such as the NOW House Project Presentation Feb.5, the Lantern Festival Feb.22, our Annual General Meeting April 2, and Earth Day and the first Haney Farmer’s Market of the year on April 20!
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Check out our newsletter to meet our 40 under 40 and see pictures from their Depot Tour & visit with Maple Ridge Mayor & Council AND see the inspiring projects they’re working on NOW!
Sign up for our newsletter mailing list or check out past newsletters here 🙂
Check out our latest newsletter to meet our 40 under 40 and see pictures from their Depot Tour & visit with Maple Ridge Mayor & Council AND see the inspiring projects they’re working on NOW!
Sign up for our newsletter mailing list or check out past newsletters here 🙂
On July 1, 2012, there are a number of EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) programs expanding, which means more items will be accepted at the Maple Ridge Recycling Depot as part of BC Stewardship Programs. While all electric & electronic items are already accepted at the depot (“Everything with a battery or a cord!”), people can bring many more items to the depot for recycling starting July 1, 2012.
Newly accepted items through Encorp’s Return-It Electronics program include everything used with electronic systems such as 8-tracks, records, cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, laser discs, memory cards, game cartridges, VHS (& Beta!) tapes, floppy discs, & USB drives. While this program doesn’t include the cases, they will be covered in the future by the EPR program for packaging and printed paper, which is currently in its planning stages.
Product Care’s LightRecycle program is also expanding from just fluorescent light bulbs & tubes to include all light bulbs, including incandescent, LED, halogen, & miniature (flashlight & Christmas lights) light bulbs. The program is also expanding from residential lights to businesses & organizations in the “ICI” sector, which covers Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional. Other programs are expanding to include medical grade electronics, electronic toys, car electronics (GPS systems, stereos, & radios), all electric or electronic tools, gaming systems, and any sport, leisure, arts, craft, or hobby devices that have a power cord, plug, or battery.
Here is a list of some of the new items accepted at the Recycling Depot starting July 1, 2012:
The community came out, the rain held off, and Earth Art was everywhere for this year’s Celebrate Earth Day festival in Maple Ridge!
Two favourites from last year’s event, the Family Freecycle and the Cycle Recycle, grew even bigger this year. The Family Freecycle was held in the Greg Moore Youth Centre. “Last year we collected and gave away the equivalent of ¾ of a cube van full of gently used books, toys, and clothing – this year we gave away the equivalent of 1½!” said Freecycle Coordinator Tanis Green.
Newly accepted items through