A rare opportunity awaits 600 ticket-holders who will hear worldrenowned environmentalist Dr. David Suzuki, speak at a one-night-only engagement in Orangeville next week.

The sold-out evening is promised to be an intimate discussion about Dr. Suzuki's life. He is promoting the second instalment of his autobiography, which is being released this month.

Orangeville's BookLore, in partnership with two local environmental groups, Reduce the Juice from Shelburne and Weedgee Kidz from Caledon, submitted a proposal to Dr. Suzuki, for Orangeville to be considered as a stop on his book tour.

He accepted the invitation and will speak in the cafetorium at Orangeville District Secondary School, to an audience - limited to ticket-holders - on Saturday, April 29.

"It's one of the smaller venues where he'll be discussing his latest book," said Nancy Frater, owner of BookLore.

She added, "Expect an intimate discussion, up close and personal."

Ms. Frater noted that it is most likely the good work the two organizations she is working with, that helped attract Dr. Suzuki to this community.

Reduce the Juice, a youth-led initiative that sprung up in Shelburne last year, has plans to continue its mission in Orangeville this summer.

The project's objectives for Orangeville include:

 Build a renewable energy demonstration system at both high schools to promote energy choices and future technologies;  raise awareness

about energy conservation and renewable energy technologies;

 encourage the citizens of Orangeville to reduce their use of energy.

Reduce the Juice's influence was felt in Shelburne last year when the

first door-to-door campaign was launched to encourage homeowners in the town to reduce their use of energy.

During the summer, the plan is to hire 12 high school students and three university students to conduct door-to-door surveys of 4,000 homes in Orangeville. The goal is to reduce the town's energy usage by five per cent by the end of the summer.

Caledon's Weedgee Kidz, another student-driven community initiative with

lofty goals, is pleased to be included in enticing Dr. Suzuki to town.

The group was recently honoured with the 2006 Outstanding Rural Youth Achievement Award, given by the Foundation for Rural Living, and that distinction followed recognition by Credit Valley Conservation last year.

The program provides summer employment for 13 students and two young conservation professionals who go door-to-door with information about organic lawn care.

"Getting your lawn off drugs" is a slogan the group uses.

The youth-based community outreach is an innovative, non-profit initiative that travels through the hills of Caledon demonstrating to residents, the art of weed-pulling and provides information about natural lawn care.

Weedgee Kidz is a joint project with Healthy Lawns and the Caledon Countryside Alliance.

It is considered a big boost, by these groups to get Dr. Suzuki's nod for their efforts, and along with the staff at BookLore, who were recognized for publishing and selling community-based books, everyone is thrilled to have been selected to be included on this book tour.

Dr. Suzuki is the host of CBC's "The Nature of Things", the founder and chair of the David Suzuki Foundation and the author of more than 40 books. He was also selected as a nominee in the CBC's competition for the Greatest Canadian.

Dr. Suzuki's work as an environmentalist, writer and thinker is highly recognized around the world.

The April 29 presentation is set for 7:30 p.m., but it is suggested to arrive early, (doors open

at 6:30 p.m.) as seating is

first-come, first-serve.

"Expect an intimate discussion, up close and personal."

- Nancy Frater