News Releases RSS FeedGreen Event Workshop Offered in Library
April 30, 2008 / 6:30 PM
April 30, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Maple Ridge Library, Fraser Room
Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows, BC: On July 12 and 13 the two day Caribbean Festival, which will be Maple Ridge's first "green" festival event, has planned a number of initiatives to reduce the celebration's impact on the environment.
The organizing committee, headed up by event Chairperson, Deddy Geese, is encouraging festival participants to bring their own mug for beverages at the event. For those who forget to bring a mug or would like a souvenir of the Caribbean celebration, Caribbean Festival mugs will be available for $5.00 at participating food vendors. The mugs will allow the event to produce less waste while also helping the volunteers fundraise for next year's event.
Ineke Boekhorst from the Caribbean Festival committee said, "We are very excited to be the first "environmentally-friendly" festival event. We've come up with some great ideas towards minimizing the impact the Caribbean Festival has on the environment. It's also a fantastic opportunity to encourage and educate a large audience about ways to host an environmentally-friendly event."
The Caribbean Festival committee has also advised all of their food vendors to have recyclable and/or environmentally-friendly plates and cutlery only and has encouraged them to use only environmentally-friendly cleaning products. "We connected with the Salvation Army, which will bring in recycling bins. All proceeds of the collection of bottles, cans, and other items will go towards Salvation Army programs," said Boekhorst.
Other local events in both Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge are also encouraging the thousands of residents and tourists who visit their festivalsto minimize their impact and carbon footprint. The Pitt Meadows Day event on Saturday, June 7, for example, is supported by a number of environmentally conscious community groups. These include the Bicycle Advisory volunteers who provide a secure bike lock-up area for folks who choose to leave their vehicles at home.
For those who plan meetings, birthday parties, weddings, family gatherings or any other event that traditionally produces garbage and brings groups of people together from various locations, a workshop on "Planning a Green Event" is planned for Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the Maple Ridge Library, Fraser Room. Hosted by Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks and Leisure Services, participants will receive information and tips for reducing the negative impact of their event on the environment. They will also have the opportunity to share their ideas and experience with other participants.
The workshop is free, but please reserve a spot as seating is limited. Call Kathryn at Parks and Leisure Services, 604-467-7459. Refreshments will be provided; please bring your own mug. Donations to the Friends in Need Food Bank will also be gratefully accepted. For transit information to the Maple Ridge Library and to other events in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, please visit mapleridge-pittmeadows.com/transit.htm