Kids were creating a natural mandala in the grass, musicians were performing on stage, Hub Cycling gave away bikes, and the sun shone on an estimated 5,000 people who attended Earth Day in Maple Ridge.
The event went perfectly on April 18 in Memorial Peace Park, said organizer Leanne Koehn of the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society.
“There were people on bikes, people meeting in the sunshine, celebrating nature, the farmers market, the electric cars – everything on the Earth Day site is what I want to see in the world,” said Koehn after her 15th annual Earth Day celebration.
“I love the activities that we’ve developed over the years, and the organizations that bring their passions, and their goals,” she added.
Haakon MacCallum of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association, dressed in a top hat and tux, introduced people to a Model 38 electric car that was build in 1913.
Jackie Chow of Hub Cycling was there to give away 12 gently used bikes.
“This is my favourite event of the year,” said Chow, who enjoys making people smile with a new (to them) bike. “It’s always nice to see the happy faces.”
Kids were getting their faces painted, watching young circus performers, building big puzzles and more.
Koehn said the organizers approach the event as connecting people and creating community. The day celebrated three important milestones for community groups: The 50th anniversary of the Maple Ridge Community Foundation, and 70th Anniversary of the Maple Ridge Museum and Archives, and the 125th Anniversary of the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Country Fest.
There were Earth Day contests for photography and poetry, and the winners were announced at the event:
Poetry Contest Winners:
• Antoinetta Dewitt, Adult category
• Marion S., Youth category (age 12)
• Kylie Reddekopp, Youth category (age 13)
Photo Contest Winners:
First: Courtney Jones
Second: Angie Castillo, (age 8)
Judges Award: Brooklyn (age 12)
Koehn said the event leaves people feeling connected to their community, and hopeful for the future.
“Everybody is an environmentalist – it’s just a spectrum,” she said. “We all want to see a better world.”
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