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April 22 marks Earth Day, celebrated in 193 countries around the world to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
Earth Day was first held in 1970, and has since expanded to feature a wide range of events, coordinated globally by EarthDay.org to include approximately one billion people.
In Calgary, we’re lucky to be surrounded by wide open spaces, forests, and lakes, as our province is home to both the prairies and five national parks.
At times, it can be easy to take the earth for granted. Since it was here before we were born, and will likely be here long after we’re gone, it’s important to respect and appreciate our planet as much as we can.
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Whether you want to get outside and enjoy nature, start recycling and composting more, plant a garden, reduce your water usage, or tote around a reusable cup, there are plenty of things you can do to show your support for our environment.
Here are some of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day in Calgary this year.
Currie Tree & Treasure Hunt
What: Take part in the “Currie Tree & Treasure Hunt” this month and learn about some of Calgary’s oldest and largest trees. Enjoy safe, outdoor fun by scanning QR codes at 10 noteworthy trees throughout the community to learn more about various species, historical anecdotes, fun facts, and more.
Urban explorers can enter to win dinner at The Inn on Officers’ Garden and free ice cream treats by posting a photo of one of the 10 trees on Instagram using #currietreecontest.
When: April 22 to 30
Where: The community of Currie, Calgary
Cost: Free (website will go live just before the event begins)
Take part in Earth Day Canada’s EcoHack-a-City initiative
What: The EcoHack-a-City initiative is a series of virtual events that aim to create a network of change-makers who support the ecological transition of cities. Join Calgary, Moncton, Ottawa, Laval, and North Vancouver in partnership with Earth Day Canada for online training, question panels, and help to address the complex challenges cities face in their ecological transition.
When: April 29, with more panels happening throughout the year
Time: 9 to 10:30 am
Where: Online
Cost: Free (register here)
Shop at a zero-waste store
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What: A number of zero-waste stores have popped up in Calgary in recent years, and if you haven’t made the switch yet, what better time to commit to reducing waste than on Earth Day? Check out The Apothecary, Canary Goods, Without Co., The Grinning Goat, or Nudemarket to shop their goods and reduce your ecological footprint.
Kincora Earth Day – Amazing Race
What: The community of Kincora is making picking up litter competitive this Earth Day. Volunteers will provide competitors with a route and everything they need to safely clean up trash in the neighbourhood’s green spaces and parks. Every registered participant who brings back a full garbage bag will receive a voucher for a free small pizza.
When: April 22
Time: Noon to 8 pm
Where: Kincora Drive NW
Cost: Free
Enter to win a dedicated park bench at one of Calgary’s most popular viewpoints
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What: What better way to celebrate Earth Day than entering to win your own bench in one of the city’s green spaces? In honour of the 30th anniversary of their Bench and Picnic Table Dedication Program, Parks Foundation Calgary is providing YYC with the opportunity to win a custom bronze plaque on a dedication bench at the popular Scotsman’s Hill. There are a couple of ways you can enter, so be sure to check out the Parks Foundation’s website for details.
When: Entries can be submitted up until 11:59 pm on May 31.
Where: Download the entry form here.
Cost: Free
Sign up for 2021 Garden Show programming
What: The Calgary Horticultural Society presents a virtual edition of the Garden Show in 2021. Hear from plant, soil and water experts, keynote speakers, win prizes, and check out the exhibitor hall with this online experience. Happening the weekend after Earth Day, this is the perfect opportunity to prepare to get your hands dirty during the upcoming gardening season.
When: April 24 to 25
Time: 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Online
Cost: $30, or $20 for members of the Calgary Horticultural Society
Stream Earth Day Live
What: Check out virtual programming from EarthDay.org, with several climate action talks shared in the days leading up to Earth Day and a live event streamed on April 22. Featuring topics like “Teach for the Planet,” a Global Youth Summit, and more.
When: April 20 to 22
Time: Programming varies (Live event begins at 10 am on April 22)
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Celebrate the Calgary Farmers’ Market’s 10th Anniversary
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What: The earth provides us with fruit and veggies, and it’s the perfect time to head over to Calgary’s Farmers’ Market to pick up some farm-fresh produce (and other goodies). As an added bonus, you can celebrate their tenth anniversary while you’re there. Enter to win one of 10 giveaway baskets, snap a photo with their balloon display, and shop anniversary deals at vendors throughout the market.
When: April 22 to 25
Time: 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Calgary Farmers’ Market
Cost: Varies by purchase
Watch the 2021 Lyrid meteor shower
What: As if in acknowledgment of Earth Day, the Lyrid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak on April 22. The Lyrid shower ends the meteor drought that occurs between January and mid-April each year. The Lyrids are expected to produce 10 to 15 meteors per hour during their peak.
When: The Lyrids are active from around April 16 to 25 each year. In 2021, the shower is expected to peak in the pre-dawn hours on April 22. The following morning (April 23) may also be a good time to view the meteors.
Time: The best time to spot meteors is between midnight and dawn.
Where: The shower can be seen in skies globally.
Southcentre Mall’s Spring Virtual Egg Hunt
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What: Celebrate spring at Southcentre Mall. Southcentre has used the power of augmented reality to create a Spring Virtual Egg Hunt to help Calgarians get out of the house for a fun and safe adventure. Giant Easter eggs and other surprises have been hidden throughout the halls of Southcentre, ready for you to discover using the free “Virtual Easter” app.
When: On now until April 30
Time: Mall hours (11 am to 7 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am to 6 pm on Sundays)
Where: Southcentre Mall (100 Anderson Road SE)
Cost: Free
Attend a community clean-up
What: Communities around Calgary are hosting litter clean-ups in hopes of making their neighbourhoods (and the planet) a slightly better place to live. Pick up a TLC Kit from the City of Calgary to hold your own small clean-up with your family.
When: April 22
Time: Varies by community
Where: Calgary Outdoor Club, Plastic-Free YYC, Calgary Downtown, Kincora, Downtown West, Renfrew, are just a few of the many communities and organizations with litter clean-ups planned.
Join Calgary Co-op for a virtual, eco-friendly wine tasting
What: In honour of Earth Day, this virtual event with Co-op Wine Spirits Beer will cover earth-friendly wine labelling terms, explain why winemakers have become so environmentally conscious, and lead a tasting of wines that are good for the earth – and your tastebuds.
When: April 22
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Where: Online
Cost: Free registration (one per household), attendees are responsible for the cost of wine.
Hit up one of Calgary’s many patios
What: Hey, drinking outside still counts as getting fresh air, right? Celebrate Earth Day by grabbing a beverage at one of Calgary’s famous patios. If you want to bring your four-legged friend along, there are options for that too.
Calgary Zoo Adults-Only Night: QUEST for the Golden Giraffe
What: Animals make up a massive part of our planet’s ecosystem, so head on over to the Calgary Zoo this Earth Day to support their conservation efforts while you have some fun.
The Calgary Zoo is introducing a whole new kind of adults-only night this month with the help of QUEST, a game series that puts players right inside the story, where they’ll choose what happens next. Explore the zoo and stop at bars along the route as you work to find your way to the finish. You can even add a dinner box to your evening, with a variety of delicious options.
When: April 22
Time: First timed ticket entry at 4 pm, with entry times staggered in 30-minute intervals. The game runs until 8 pm.
Where: The Calgary Zoo (210 St. George’s Drive NE)
Cost: $45 (or $60 with a dinner box add-on)
Go on a spring walk
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What: Calgary is home to some incredible parks and pathways, creating the perfect backdrop for an Earth Day walk. Head outside, get some fresh air and exercise, and maybe even gain a new respect for our planet while enjoying some of the city’s gorgeous green space. Check out our list of the best places to walk this spring.
Red Deer River Naturalists Speaker Night: Bats
What: Learn about a misunderstood species this Earth Day with Dr. Robert Barclay of the University of Calgary. Tune in to the Red Deer River Naturalists Speaker Night to hear Dr. Barclay present the topic, “Bats are Amazing But are Facing Several Conservation Challenges.”
When: April 22
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Mount Engadine Lodge’s Plant Powered Stay
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What: Book a stay at the gorgeous Mount Engadine Lodge from April 28 to 29, and enjoy four vegan meals. To help bring awareness to plant-based living, a portion of all revenue will be donated to The Alice Sanctuary, a local haven for rescued farm animals.
Guests will enjoy breakfast, afternoon high tea (with a deluxe charcuterie spread), and gourmet dinners delivered right to their rooms. Packed lunches can also be provided for outdoor adventures. Choose to stay in suites located in the main lodge, private cabins, or glamping tents.
When: April 28 to 29
Where: Mount Engadine Lodge (1 Mount Shark Rd, Canmore)
Cost: Varies by accommodation type and number of people