Join The City's green events this week: flow with World Water Day and unplug for Earth Hour!
Every day, we make choices about how much energy and water we use to support our lives and households. These two resources are essential to living and have a major role in our quality of life. To celebrate their local and global importance, and acknowledge the choices we have when using them, we’re taking part in two international events:
Today is World Water Day followed by Earth Hour on Saturday.
"World Water Day and Earth Hour are two great events for Calgarians to learn about sustainability, energy consumption and water use, all while connecting with the community," says Mayor Jyoti Gondek. "As we celebrate World Water Day today, let's also take this opportunity to show the world that Calgary is proud to lead the way in responsible energy management."
One of our roles at The City is to empower citizens and communities through education and outreach opportunities, so they can make their own choices on taking climate action when and where they can.
Whether it’s when we turn on our lights, the amount of time we let our water run when washing dishes and watering our lawns, or how we choose to travel from our homes, it’s important to be aware of the effects of using water and consuming energy. These two events are an opportunity to join our fellow citizens from around the world and appreciate the resources that improve our quality of life and use them wisely.
World Water Day – Wednesday, March 22 (Today!)
Happy World Water Day! This year, the United Nations’ theme is “Accelerating Change,” which aims to start a conversation about action and the mindset that every drop (of water) counts.
World Water Day is a time to think about how we use water – we know it’s essential for life, but we can sometimes take it for granted. Calgary’s water primarily comes from the Bow and Elbow Rivers, which are fed by mountain snowmelt and glaciers. We are privileged to live close to our source water and have world-leading treatment facilities in Calgary, but not everyone has fresh water available to them. In fact, billions of people and countless schools, businesses, healthcare centres, farms and factories don’t have the safe water and toilets they need. You can learn, share and act on water use and awareness with resources at worldwaterday.org.
We also featured World Water Day and our contributions to Truth and Reconciliation in last month’s edition of Indigi-Messenger. It brings awareness to the lack of access to clean water in some parts of Canada, where clean water cannot be taken for granted. As well, our long-term work on Calgary’s river valleys and adapting to a changing climate, includes a foundation of Indigenous knowledge, specifically from the Blackfoot, Tsuut’ina, Stoney Nakoda and Métis.
Calgary landmarks, like the Calgary Tower and TELUS Spark, will be lit blue to celebrate the importance of water. It’s a reminder about the part each of us play in how much water we use and the choices we make to reduce its use, when we can.
Check out Water efficiency in Calgary on ways you can save water and money in your household.
Learn more about World Water Day and read personal stories about water from across the globe.
Earth Hour – Saturday, March 25, 8:30 – 9:30 p.m.
We are proud to support Calgary Unplugged, an Earth Hour celebration, hosted by the Arusha Centre’s Climate program, on March 25, at Calgary Central Library. Earth Hour is a worldwide event that continues the conversation on our choices that can reduce energy use and our impact on the environment.
Calgary Unplugged is a family-friendly event that encourages Calgarians to have fun “switching on” to switching off their lights, while being mindful of the energy they use. The event will bring together local businesses, community organizations and artists, who are committed to reducing their environmental footprint and practicing sustainability.
The City is supporting Earth Hour by turning off non-essential and decorative lighting in several City locations, including Ad Valorem Place, all fire stations and the Calgary Municipal Building.
By taking part in Earth Hour, along with other sustainability initiatives, Calgarians can show their commitment to protecting the planet's natural resources and building a sustainable future.
By taking part in World Water Day and Earth Hour, we show a commitment to protecting our planet's natural resources and building a sustainable future.
Learn about everyday actions we can take to manage our energy use and act on climate change.