Earth Day is celebrated throughout the world, including in the transboundary region of Canada and the United States.
The holiday officially occurs on April 22, but events are held throughout the month to focus attention on environmental issues such as air quality, water quality and habitat.
The first Earth Day was in 1970. This year’s theme is “Protect Our Species.” The theme is meant to recognize that human activities are the leading cause of a global decline in species including insects and birds, according to the Earth Day Network, which helps organize events around the globe.
How can you get involved?
There are toolkits available online for those wishing to learn more about Earth Day and actions that individuals can take.
Cities, environmental groups and others also are putting on Earth Day-related events in April in the transboundary region, says Earth Day Network Vice President Kathryn Stoddard. The IJC’s Great Lakes Regional Office will have an exhibit at an April 28 event in Windsor.
Click on any event description below to find out more. To volunteer for or register cleanup events, see earthday.org/cleanup.
Detroit
April 1-30: 2019 Earth Day 24,901 Mile Run/Walk Challenge – Detroit
April 6: Earth Day in Detroit: Volunteer with One Tree Planted
April 13: The Collective at True North Earth Day Clean Up
April 13: Earth Day Clean Up, Brownstown
April 20: Detroit City Council Green Task Force Earth Day Award Celebration 2019
April 27: Belle Isle Spring Clean-Up 2019
Ontario
April 14: 5th Annual Earth Day Environmental Seminar, Richmond Hill
April 21: Earth Day Summit, Mississauga
April 22: CHL's 1st Annual Earth Day Clean-Up at Humber College, Toronto
April 27: Earth Day Celebration at Toronto Botanical Garden
April 27: Earth Week Park Clean-Up, Toronto
April 28: Earth Day at Downsview Park, Toronto
April 28: Earth Day Windsor Essex
Quebec
April 1-30: 2019 Earth Day 24,901 Mile Run/Walk Challenge - Gatineau
April 28: Earth Day @ the Museum: Gardens and plants, Montreal
Winnipeg
April 21: Earth Day at the Children’s Museum
April 28: EARTH DAY @ Fort Whyte
Washington
April 1-30: 2019 Earth Day 24,901 Mile Run/Walk Challenge - Seattle
April 6: Earth Day Rally, Ridgefield
April 13: Happy Earth Day 2019, Spokane Valley
April 20: Earth Day at Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle
April 20: Earth Day Run, Seattle
April 22-30: 2019 Earth Day 5K & 10K Spokane
April 22: Introduction to the Zero Waste Lifestyle: an Earth Day action event, Seattle
April 27: Earth Day Trail Cleanup: from Fremont to Ballard on the Burke Gilman trail, Seattle
April 28: Earth Day Community Clean-Up, Seattle
Vancouver
April 20: Earth Day Fest 2019
April 20: Earth Day Ivy Pull at Columbia Grove
April 20: Earth Day Mulch Party
April 20: Land Bridge Earth Day Work Party
April 22-30: 2019 Earth Day 5K & 10K Vancouver.
The Earth Day Network is encouraging people to share their events on social media using the hashtags #ProtectOurSpecies and #EarthDay2019 and tagging @EarthDayNetwork.
Next year is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
Jeff Kart is executive editor of the Shared Waters IJC newsletter and a contractor to the US Section of the International Joint Commission in Washington, D.C.
