Earth Day was designed to create awareness of the environment and appreciation for the Earth.

The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970, in the United States. Twenty years later, 2 million Canadians had joined with the 200 million people in 141 nations in the annual observance.

Since then, the largescale environmental awareness event has grown to six million Canadians and 1 billion people in over 170 countries worldwide and Earth Day has grown into Earth Week, focusing on addressing local environmental issues.

This year marks the third year Orangeville has co-ordinated and participated in Earth Week events. East Luther Grand Valley will also be taking part in Earth Week this year, but not Shelburne, which did participate last year. “We’ve lots going on in town this month but nothing on Earth Week,” Mayor Ed Crewson said Wednesday.

Orangeville’s Earth Week starts the morning of Saturday, April 17. Tree planting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and run until 12 noon, north and east of Morrow Crescent, and south of Chapman Road and Raven Court. Between 500 and 700 native trees and plants will be planted.

In 2009, about 100 residents planted 800 trees and plants in KayCee Gardens and beside the Fire Hall on Dawson Road.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves, boot and shovel if possible, and to dress for the weather.

The Optimist Club of Orangeville will host free barbecue lunch for participants.

The second annual Baby Tree Forest dedication ceremony will take place April 18. The Baby Tree program allows family and friends to make donation in the baby’s name. These donations go towards planting new trees in Orangeville. The donations from 2009 have been put toward the native trees being planted in Fendley Park. Names of the all the babies recognized by the program will be listed on plaque at the base of the tree bed.

A 20-minute cleanup has been scheduled for p.m. on April 20. Local businesses and residents are encouraged to clean outside their home, work or school. Gloves and garbage bags are being handed out at Orangeville Town Hall, Alder Street Recreation Centre, Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre and Orangeville Public Library.

Town Hall staff is challenging the community to follow their example on Thursday, April 22 and walk or ride their bikes to work.

The Town is also encouraging residents to walk, bike or run on the town’s trails. Orangeville is currently in the process of developing 15 km recreation loop of trails linking to Island Lake, Monora Park and the Credit River trail.

The documentary Garbage! The Revolution Starts at Home, written and directed by Andrew Nisker, will be playing all day and night of April 23 at the Orangeville Library. Mr. Nisker takes the McDonalds, an average family, and shows them the effects of a family on the environment.

On April 24, Princess Margaret Public School and the Harvey Curry Park are scheduled for sodturning ceremonies. Princess Margaret will be welcoming a flower garden, while Harvey Curry Park is planting a vegetable garden. Orangeville residents will be given the opportunity to lease a plot of land in the vegetable garden to grow maintain and harvest their own vegetable crop.

The Dufferin Coalition for Kids (DuCK) is having the “Play in the Park” BBQ on the same day. DuCK is a group of local agencies and service providers who support children, youth and their families. The barbecue is to encourage neighborhoods to get to know each other through playing with their children and walking or relaxing in the parks in town.

A “green” car and solar trailer display at the Alder Street Recreation Centre will also be seen during Earth week. Environmental displays will be set up at public libraries, town hall addressing local environment issues. On April 19 the “Grandmas and Pajamas” will be in the Town Hall lobby accepting donations of new or gently used clothes.

This year, East Luther Grand Valley is joining the movement to make a difference.

The township is having a day of conservation planning, a book swap, 20-minute cleanup, walk or bike to work day, movie day and a ‘Paint the Town Green’ contest. Also planned are environmentally themed displays and book reading at the local library, as well as a “plant a garden or tree day.”

East Luther Grand Valley residents can text “REDUCE” to 78247 for more information on the week-long events.