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AWARE gearing up for Earth Day

After a few slow years, Earth Day will be celebrated once again in Whistler with a festival in the village on Saturday, April 20.

After a few slow years, Earth Day will be celebrated once again in Whistler with a festival in the village on Saturday, April 20.

The Association of Whistler Area Resident for the Environment, in co-operation with local businesses, is organizing the event, which will feature live music, dancing, prizes, displays, face painting, and a few special presentations.

"We’re anticipating thousands of people coming around this year because it’s during the World Ski and Snowboard Festival, and a lot is going on in the village that day," said Wendy Horan, 3Rs educator for the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. "There’s the dog parade, the skier big air contest. It’s going to be busy."

This year the activities will take place in the North Village, by the gazebo in Town Plaza, from noon to 4 p.m.

Several groups will be hosting display tables, including the Whistler. It’s Our Nature sustainability group, the Jack Bell Foundation, Whistler and Valley Express, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, Whistler-Blackcomb, the Bicycle Task Force, the Whistler Fisheries Stewardship Group, the Jennifer Jones Whistler Bear Foundation, Whistler Eco Tours, Fibre Options, the Whistler Naturalists Society, local organic farmers, and AWARE.

The schools are getting involved through an Earth Day poster contest, and for the second year in a row the Reuse-It Centre is hosting a fashion show featuring second-hand ski clothing and local celebrities. The fashion show will take place on the stage in Town Square at 4 p.m.

Earth Day began in Seattle back in 1970, and today it’s celebrated by more than 5,000 organizations in 184 countries.

From 8 a.m. until noon on April 20, AWARE will be hosting its annual Pitch In Day, where residents are asked to donate their time to pick up litter along highways in green spaces and around town.

In addition, the Whistler and Valley Express will be offering free transit all day on April 22, which is the internationally recognized Earth Day.

For more information on Whistler’s Earth Day celebrations, or to volunteer for Earth Day or Pitch In Day activities, e-mail AWARE at aware@direct.ca, or call 604-932-4457.