Earth Day, Every Day
For over 50 years, people have been celebrating Earth Day.
Now recognized as the largest secular holiday, Earth Day was first envisioned as an opportunity to teach college and university students about environmental issues in the United States. An estimated six million Canadians participate in various activities to promote environmental protection and sustainability each year.
The day is marked by a range of initiatives, such as tree planting, recycling drives, community clean-ups, and educational programs.
This year, with over 43% of greenhouse gas emissions originating from the transportation sector and a rise in car usage, promoting sustainable mobility is crucial. The Earth Day 2024 campaign is called Earth Day is Leg Day. The goal is to encourage a significant number of citizens, municipalities, and organizations to try different modes of transportation for Earth Day and adopt new eco-friendly habits.
Earth Day’s messages of conservation and sustainability may be particularly pertinent to those in the Bow Valley. As home to a major wildlife corridor, maintaining healthy and stable ecosystems within and around our communities is especially important. Conscious efforts to pursue coexistence and sustainability are essential to maintaining a healthy and biodiverse area where both people and animals can flourish.
Environmental conservation also helps to battle climate change and has economic benefits. Practices such as recycling, implementing green energy solutions, and understanding the plants and animals in our local environment can add up to make huge differences.
The Biosphere has partnered with several organisations across the month of April to host a number of Earth Day-related events; read on to find out more!
It can be hard to understand how these devices work in a cold winter.
Whereas gas boilers burn gas to produce heat, heat pumps do something more complicated. Sometimes described as working like a “fridge in reverse”, they use a mixture of evaporation and condensation to transfer heat from outside to inside a building.
Here is a great interactive resource from the UK which looks more closely at an air source heat pump and explains how they work:
Earth Week Events - April 22 - 26!
Join the Biosphere Institute, Timberline Academy, Urban Forest Initiative, and the Bow Valley Food Alliance to celebrate Earth Week with engaging events, talks, and workshops! Topics range from upcycling and food sovereignty to wildlife and urban forests. Every night includes a raffle for Arcteryx gear, hand-painted skis and snowboards, and upcycled crafts made by local college students.
2 - 5 pm - April 22 - Earth Day Community Clean Up
Join us on Earth Day for a community clean-up in Canmore as the snow melts and exposes litter around town.
2:00 PM - Clean-up. Meet at the Biosphere Institute Office! Gloves, pickers and bags will be provided.
4:00 PM - Join us after the clean-up at Rhythm and Howl for a beverage or snack.
APR 22 - Earth Talks
Eco-Education & Upcycling Adventures with Timberline Academy!
Join us and Timberline Alpine Academy at the Canmore Public Library for their presentation "Eco-Education & Upcycling Adventures!"
This Earth Talks event, in partnership with the Canmore Public Library, will take place on Monday, April 22nd, at 7:00 pm in the Friends Program Room.
About Eco-Education & Upcycling Adventures:
Attendees will :
Learn about how local college students are engaging in the community
Learn how to turn old socks, skis, and climbing gear into useful items!
Learn how other people in the community need/want to reduce waste
After their presentation, there will be discussions about how we can reduce waste, barriers we may face, and what waste reduction programs, initiatives, events, and services you want to see in our community!
Livestream is available on Zoom here.
Other Upcoming Events!
April 12 - 14 - Swap-O-Rama!
Drop off anyone and everyone's clean, gently loved clothing, shoes, and accessories at the Canmore Library between Saturday, April 6th and Friday, April 12th at noon.
All sizes, genders, and ages welcomed and encouraged. Please no household wares, toys, or other non-clothing items.
April 14 - Rye in the Rockies!
We are excited to share that the Biosphere Institute has been named the recipient of the 'Rye in the Rockies Cocktail Competition' ticket sale profits!
Tickets are $15 online and $25 at the door; this includes a welcome cocktail. Co-hosted by Bridgette Bar and our lovely friends at Wild Life Distillery, Canmore's top mixologists will go head-to-head to compete for the top prize using Wild Life Rye Whisky in this sustainability-focused cocktail competition. Competitors will be challenged to incorporate an element of sustainability behind the bar into a unique cocktail presentation for the judges and crowd.
April 20 - Bear Day is Back for 2024!
Mark Saturday, April 20th, on your calendars! Alberta Parks and WildSmart are hosting Bear Day at Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park’s Day Lodge to coincide with bears' emergence from their winter dens.
This event celebrates and welcomes bears back on the landscape for another year. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the bears in our area and refresh your bear safety knowledge and skills so you are prepared for the upcoming season and bear-aware.
Indoor and outdoor activities include bear spray demonstrations, bear safety talks, a bear trapping demonstration, bear awareness hikes (registration required), kids’ bear storytimes and bear-related booths and displays.
This is a FREE family-friendly event! Activities begin at 9:00 am and end at 3:00 pm. In the event of inclement weather, the majority of activities will take place indoors.
April 20 - Not the End of the World!
The Future Leaders Youth Council of the Biosphere Institute are calling on the youth of the Bow Valley!
The free event, "Not the End of the World" takes place at the Banff YWCA on Saturday, April 20th from 12:30-10pm. The Youth Council invites others in grades 9-12 to participate in hands-on workshops, learn about actions for a better Earth, network with like-minded youth and celebrate the good in the world. Think: speakers, workshops, networking, an open mic and dance!
April 21 - 7th Annual Plogging Event with Strides!
Strides' 7th Annual Plogging Event will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 9 am to 2 pm.
Strides Canmore will provide all Materials. Drop by anytime between 9 am and 5 pm and plog where you want!
If you can't make it on April 21st, plog ahead of time and take your garbage bags to Strides for weigh in and disposal during the week of APR 15-21.
All ploggers will receive a coupon for a $5 pint at our local breweries!
May 4 - 5, 2024 - 2024 Clean Commute Expo!
The Bow Valley's Sustainable Transportation Showcase!
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is hosting the Bow Valley's first Clean Commute Expo on May 4 (Canmore) and May 5 (Banff), 2024. The Expo will showcase a variety of battery-electric vehicles and alternative low-carbon transportation options, provide informative presentations throughout the day and host a wide range of exhibitors, including local businesses and community organizations.
This event is based on the highly successful Electric Vehicle Expo hosted by the Biosphere Institute in May 2022. Over 1,000 visitors attended this showcase and connected with experts and enthusiasts in the electric vehicle industry.
We are currently seeking volunteers for this year's Expo!
If you have an electric-powered or hybrid car, bike, scooter or motorbike that you would be willing to showcase as part of this event, find out more and note your interest here: Owner Registrations - Clean Commute Expo 2024
No vehicle to showcase, but still want to support this event? Not to worry! We have several event support volunteer roles we are looking to fill. Find out more and register your interest here: EXPO General Volunteer Registration
June 1, 2024 - Save the Date!
The Green Buildings Open House returns for 2024!
Are you a homeowner in the Bow Valley who would like to showcase and share your efforts in high-performance or sustainable building design, construction, or homeowner practices?
We are currently seeking participants for this year's Green Buildings Open House!
To sign up as a homeowner to be showcased, click here: https://su.vc/shhqpgkd
If you are a local company or organisation interested in sponsoring this event, please email jodi@biosphereinstitute.org to request a sponsorship package!
Thank You to Our Young Fundraisers!
The Biosphere Institute is SO grateful to these awesome grade 7 students, who raised money to support our climate action work - for the third year in a row! This year, they raised $260 by selling handicrafts. Huge thanks to “Help Stop Climate Change!”
From left to right: Gareth Thomson, Executive Director, Isabelle, Abigail, Hadley, Madeleine, and Maya.
Green Jobs Round Up!
own of Banff Environmental Intern - Planning & Environment
The Town of Banff is seeking candidates for a 1-year Environmental Intern role to support the implementation of the Town’s Environmental Master Plan, which encompasses topics related to emissions/energy, waste, ecosystems, water, air, and sustainable transportation.Application Deadline - Friday, April 5, 2024
Ecotrust - Program Specialist, Emissions Neutral Buildings
The Program Specialist-Emissions Neutral Buildings plays a key role in Alberta Ecotrust Foundation’s Programs Team launching the tactical operations of theEmissions Neutral Buildings Information Exchange(ENBIX). This position will focus on providing access to ENBIX’s programs within Alberta but outside of the two urban centres of Edmonton and Calgary. Application Deadline - April 12th, 2024
Wildsight Invermere - Seasonal Program Coordinator
Wildsight is seeking a full-time seasonal Program Coordinator to assist with their Columbia Lake Bighorn Sheep & Biodiversity Project.The project focuses on the conservation and stewardship of the Columbia Lake Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep herd. In this role, you will be responsible for organising and spearheading the monitoring of the sheep and building/maintaining important relationships with volunteers, ENGO partners and First Nations. Start Date: May 2024
Skip the Depot!
DIDN'T AVOID THAT BEVERAGE CONTAINER? Don't just recycle it; donate it! We've partnered with SkipTheDepot. Download the app, book a pickup, place your bags and donate your refund directly to the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley. No hassle waste recycling straight to your door!
