What is Earth Day?
Celebrated every April 22, Earth Day is the largest, most celebrated
environmental event worldwide.
More than 6 million Canadians join 1 billion people in over 170 countries in
staging events and projects to address local environmental issues. Nearly every
school child in Canada takes part in an Earth Day activity.
What You Can Do
Here are a few ways to get involved, have fun and make a difference!
- Go for a hike on one of HRM's great trails
- Try out the HRM Urban Biokit for some outdoor family fun focusing on HRM’s incredible biodiversity
Did you Know?
HRM has been doing some great work to reduce our energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), protect our water, grow our city sustainably and more! Here are a few highlights:
 Council adopted a target to reduce GHGs by 30% below 2008 levels by 2020.
- HRM is working on an initiative called Solar City, a residential solar panel installation program for domestic hot water.
- HRM recently finished 17 solar installations on municipal buildings.
- Water quality monitoring program for 60 lakes and 4 rivers, sampled 3 times per year.
- HRM is nearing completion of its Urban Forest Master Plan, a strategic policy document to help manage the urban forest over the next 25 years.
- HRM expanded its recycling program to include all plastic containers, diverting even more material from our landfill.
HRM Activities on Earth Day in Previous Years
Earth Day 2011
Leading up to Earth Day - HRM partnered with the Adventure Earth Centre's youth group known as H.E.A.T. (Helping the Earth and Acting Together) to reward residents for doing good things to help protect our planet.
Members of H.E.A.T., on behalf of HRM Solid Waste Resources, patrolled the streets for individuals who Get Caught Recycling in their community during the week. They spoted people shopping malls and along our city streets. When they found an individual recycling, picking up litter, using a reusable coffee mug, or doing other small but important actions beneficial to our future, they thanked them with a small token of appreciation.
Interpretative Walk along the Sackville River
Earth Day was celbrated by learning about your Water Footprint! The Halifax Regional Municipality and the Sackville Rivers Association hosted this free public event to celebrate Earth Day 2011.
Participants found out about their river, their watershed, and thier Water Footprint. The water footprint of an individual, community or business is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce the foods and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the business. Water use is measured in water volume consumed and/or polluted per unit of time.
Bags were available for participants to collect the waste accumulated on the trail over the winter.
Dartmouth Harbour Front Trail Walk
Organized by Halifax  Regional Municipality and the Heart and Stroke Foundation! this walk (3km in length) started and finished at the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal parking lot by the Trans Canada Trail Pavilion
The winner of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission and Sustainable Environment Management Office (SEMO) Bike Rack Design Competition was announced during this event!
Mindshift Performance
HRM’s Adventure Earth Centre held  a public performance of the award-winning program “Mindshift”. MindShift is all about SHIFTING our culture toward environmental sustainability. It is a youth-designed and youth-led program which aims to make a sustainable difference in schools and communities.
Noon Hour Bike Ride
Many folks celebrated Earth Day by hopping on their bicycle for a light, police-escorted bike ride at lunch time! Orgainzed by the Sustainable Environment Management Office, the Halifax Regional Police, the Halifax Cycling Coalition and Clean Nova Scotia.
St. Margaret's Bay Trail Walk
In recognition of Earth Day, Councillor Peter Lund, staff from HRM's Sustainable Environment Management Office (SEMO) and the St. Margaret's Bay Rails to Trails Association walked with a Grade 2 class from Tantallon Elementary School.
Earth Day 2010
The Sustainable Environment Management Office organized a number of events to celebrate Earth Day - April 22nd, 2010. The Mayor, Councillors, and HRM staff participated in a number of Earth Day activities throughout the region:
Dartmouth Harbourfront Walk
About 30 people and a few dogs took a sunny morning break and participated in the Dartmouth HarbourFront Trail walk. Folks met at the by the Trans Canada Trail Pavilion about 10:30 am and strolled along the trail. Delicious apples were available for all participants!
Noon Hour Bike Ride
Almost 100 people came out for a noontime 6 km Bike Ride that started and finished in Grand Parade. The event was held in partnership with the Halifax Cycling Coalition, Clean Nova Scotia and Halifax Regional Police. Prior to the bike ride Mayor Kelly gave a donation of two rain barrels from Halifax Water, and a $1000 cash donation on behalf of HRM to the Ecology Action Centre to support community gardens through the Urban Garden Project.
Adventure Earth Centre - Earth Walk
Many people joined the staff and youth leaders of HRM’s Adventure Earth Centre for an earth walk and nature activities followed by displays and refreshments. Good fun was had by all.
This spud’s for you…
The Potato Tower-Building Workshop at the Findlay Community Centre was well attended and showed participants how
to grow potatoes in small, urban spaces 
using vertical potato towers. Using
affordable building materials and
simple design, the towers allow any urban garden to grow a full harvest of potatoes. This workshop was offered
in partnership with the Goodness Grows Dartmouth Gardening Association and the Ecology Action Centre.
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