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April 22 marked Earth Day this year, but the City of Cornwall took on a greater initiative, planning an entire Earth Week, culminating with the second annual Eco Day at Lamoureux Park on Saturday.
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The sound of acoustic music being played by locals at the Lion’s Club Bandshell enticed a crowd, as members of the public could walk through the park and learn about different environmental organizations and initiatives. Booths were set up with information from the St. Lawrence River Institute, Cornwall’s Youth for Climate Action Working Group, Transition Cornwall+, SDG Butterflyway Project, Cornwall Transit, and the Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA).
“Last year’s (Eco Day) was held in August due to lockdowns. But the original intention was to try and do an event close to Earth Day to talk about all of the environmental, climate sustainability initiatives happening in our community,” said Cornwall strategic planning co-ordinator Katherine Wells.
“There’s a lot of community organizations that this is their focus and their passion. We wanted to bring everyone together for a free, family friendly event.”
Yafa Arts and Crafts was present, hosting a recycling art workshop. Attendees of all ages could contribute to a graffiti art board that is set to make its way throughout the community, whether it be at local schools or future events. The piece will then be displayed somewhere to showcase as a meaningful mural.
“It was a suggestion we got (to have more kid-friendly activities) and we wanted to put a focus on how these steps to help the environment can be taken by people of all ages. We tried to have a few more interactive features, which we were allowed this year (with health guidelines),” said Wells.
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Cornwall’s sustainability co-ordinator Angela Parker explained the RRCA was hosting its annual tree giveaway. She also said Cornwall’s Give A Shirt spring initiative was collecting donations. And, attendees could be entered to win a gift card if they learned how to use a bike rack on a Cornwall Transit bus.
“Having everybody together highlights what’s happening with the community… the city has put the environment as a pillar on their strategic plan… and it is just really nice to get out, after the last few years we have had,” said Wells.
Throughout the city’s Earth Week, Give A Shirt donations were collected alongside garbage pickup, David Attenborough’s documentary film A life on our Planet was screened at Cornwall’s Public Library, climate science educator Dr. Heather Short hosted a presentation at Cornwall’s Public Library, and city staff members rolled up their sleeves to clean up litter.
