Community gives Earth a voice at the Earth Day Expo

Citizens of P.E.I. gathered at Murphy’s Community Centre for the annual Earth Day expo and concert on Saturday as a demonstration of public awareness of environmental issues.

The expo was part of the Canada-wide Earth Day celebrations. The expo ran from 2-7 p.m. and the concert was held Saturday night.

The events were open to all ages and lots of volunteers and sponsors were at the expo supporting environmental action and awareness.

A number of local performers were there during the afternoon including Ashley Condon, Chuck Arsenault, Michael Pentergast, Jordan MacPhee, the Murphy’s Centre Theatre Troupe Rag Tag Players, the P.E.I. Gaia Singers, the “Teachers in Harmony and Friends” choir, and one of the organizers of the event and an active volunteer with Sierra Club Canada, Tony Reddin.

The concert bands included Arrows in the Air, Bad Habits, Jordan Cameron, Downwall, Ten Strings and a Goatskin, Time Travelling Werewolves, Wake Up Earthquake, and Todd MacLean. An admission into the concert was ten dollars; however, all proceeds and donations went to the Sierra Club Canada who is a grassroots organization, which empowers people to protect and enjoy a healthy and safe Earth.

The expo also consisted of information booths, displays and a cash bar at concert time. A children’s entertainer, Alex Matheson, was also at the expo during the afternoon performing for the younger kids.

Kids were also able to participate in art activities where all the materials were provided for making “clothesline art”; seed planting displays with Vesey’s Seeds; P.E.I. Forest, Fish and Wildlife Division displayed a booth on “Urban Wildlife”; an Earth Day promise tree. Tink ‘n Ginger and other sponsors also had booths set up selling all natural products. There was also free snacks and free vegetarian chili served.

The Earth Day Art Show included the second annual “Clothesline Art” to mark International Hanging Out Day, which celebrates the active beauty of clotheslines and promotes the use of clotheslines rather than using fossil fuels or electricity to dry your clothes.

Reddin said the event is held annually in order to raise awareness and to give people a chance to show that they want to support and protect the planet.

“They want to do things to help protect our clean air, clean water, and a clean Earth,” he said.

There was an emphasis on activities for children of all ages in order to get them involved with the community and for them to learn about Earth day and how to get them involved with keeping a clean environment.

“These activities encourage them to do positive things and to express them through art and creativity,” Reddin said.

Reddin also said he is very pleased so many young people are involved and have the opportunity to share their enthusiasm while learning about sustainable technologies and actions that can lead to a greener P.E.I. lifestyle.”

Last year, more than six million Canadians joined over one billion people in over 170 countries staging similar activities to address local environmental issues and concerns.