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News Release Think green at annual enviromental
fair: March 20, 2006
"The 2006 Halton Eco Festival features a fantastic 1,200 square foot kid's eco fun area, 90 exhibitors including 30 new ones, 16 workshops, a fashion show, yoga demonstration and alternative healthcare, eco cafÉ and kitchen, silent auction, an eco-jeopardy game, and keynote speakers on the subjects of food security on Saturday (with Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser) and energy efficiency in the home and workplace on Sunday (five speakers including Cam Mather of the "Smart Power" book and Jose Etcheverry of the David Suzuki Foundation); learn how to save lots of money, improve your family's health and protect the environment by using less energy and adopting renewable energy technologies," remarked Philip Allister, chairperson of OCCPEHR, the Oakville Community Centre For Peace, Ecology And Human Rights which organizes this festival. "Young families will love 'The Funky Mamas' who will sing environmental songs for kids in the gym from 10:30 to 11:30 AM on Saturday, April 1st," said OCCPEHR Board Member Ann MacNaughton. "The kid's eco fun area is located in the green marketplace arena and will feature puppets, a play-dough and art table, eco games, puzzles and a crafts 'recycling' table," remarked Karyn Burney of the Unitarian Congregation of South Peel, the coordinators of this great space for children to play and learn about the environment. "There are a record eleven sponsors this year including the Canadian Diabetes Association (bring a bag of used clothes and get $1 off the price of admission), the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, Global Aware (56 photographs will highlight the connections between environmental concerns and international social justice issues), CKLN 88.1 FM, Signs Alive, the Halton Environmental Network (pick up a pledge sheet and raise money for local groups), and the Community Foundation of Oakville which will be launching its new 'environmental grants fund' at the 2006 Halton Eco Festival. Visit booths staffed by the RegionalMunicipality of Halton, City of Burlington and the Town of Oakville to find out more about various tax-paid programs for the environment as well," stated Joe Di Paolo, a Board Member of OCCPEHR, the eleventh sponsor. "The environmental movement is very well represented at the ecofest by green businesses and not-for-profit organizations which promote nature, home and garden care, energy and transportation, natural products, services for the environment, smart growth, reduce-reuse-recycle, health and personal care, politics and government, and a variety of other concerns," added Mr. Di Paolo. Free educational workshops on Saturday, April 1st include presentations about water (KAIROS), making peace, not war (Halton Peace Network), naturalizing public spaces (Willow Park Ecology Centre), laughter as good medicine (Burlington-Oakville Laughter Club), the ecology of the human being (Upper Oakville Chiropractic Centre), wind and solar power (Faculty of Environmental Studies, U of Waterloo), fair voting systems (Fair Vote Canada), getting healthy (Essential Touch), understanding trees and their environments (Timberwolf Tree Care) and, an alternative youth training program (Katimavik). On Sunday, April 2nd, workshop presentations will provide information about the top five toxins in your home (Wellness By Design), fair trade, peaceful planet (Ten Thousand Villages), food security and genetic engineering (GeneAction), animal rights and the environment (ARK II), climate change and global warming (Association for Canadian Educational Resources) and, walking lightly on the earth (Whole Village Ecovillage). Entrance fees are $10 for a non-transferable wristband, good for both days. The event is free for children age 12 and under. Two day admission is $6 in advance. Wristbands are available from Wastewise in Georgetown, Paradise Natural Foods in Milton and from Ten Thousand Villages and Buddha Buddha in Oakville. Wristbands also can be obtained by mailing a cheque to OCCPEHR, 148 Kerr Street, Oakville L6K 3A7 and including $1 for postage. The first 250 visitors each day will receive a free sample of soap from McGuire Homecraft. "Organizers encourage visitors to be energy efficient and carpool, cycle, walk or take Bus #28 from the Oakville GO Station. There will be ample parking available this year as a rented Laidlaw school bus will shuttle visitors to the Glen Abbey Recreation Centre from nearby Pilgrim Wood Public School, 1551 Pilgrims Way on both days," confirmed Mr. Allister. "The public wants to know more and do more to protect the natural environment. The annual Halton Eco Festival shows them how. Discover why it has been described as one of Ontario's most successful annual environmental events. Get green," added Mrs. MacNaughton. For up-to-date information about this event, phone (905) 849-5501 or visit www.haltonecofest.ca 6th annual Halton Eco Festival - 30 - Sources |