What are you doing on Earth Day this April? We offer suggestions.

Everyone has heard of Earth Day. I suspect most people can tell you it is held each April 22.

But back in the early 1980s, I remember being puzzled by an increasing reference to Earth Day. In fact, Earth Day was inaugurated in 1970, in the United States as a day of protest over increasing awareness of air and water pollution. In 1990, Canada and France officially adopted April 22 as Earth Day. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed April 22 as International Mother Earth Day five years ago, 49 years after America’s first Earth Day protest.

Earth Day events usually take place on the Saturday closest to April 22, and throughout the latter half of April. Below, Cathedral CATS (Climate Action Through Stewarding), has prepared a broad representative selection of local activities taking place Saturday April 20, through to Saturday April 27.

In particular, we remind you of For the Beauty of Earth at Christ Church Cathedral this Sunday afternoon, at 3:30 pm.

We look forward to hearing about your Earth Day adventures. Please send your stories and pictures to cathedral-cats@thecathedral.ca.

Earth Day Events

Saturday, April 20

Trout Lake Earth Day Celebration - 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (free)
Good green family fun while learning how to be better stewards of our environment. Play games, make crafts, do a nature hunt, join a workshop, or just educate yourself from one of the visiting informational booths.

Glorious Gulls Earth Day Walk, Stanley Park – 10:00 am to 11:30 pm
Learn why there is no such thing as a “seagull” in this in-person program.
Registration is required (fee: sliding scale tickets: $12-30).

Old Barn Community Centre (6308 Thunderbird Blvd)
The University Neighbourhoods Association (UNA) has the following activities this Earth Day.

• Drop-in Bike Repair with the Bike Kitchen – 10:00 am to 12 pm (free)
• DIY Beeswax Wraps Workshop – 11:00 am to 1 pm ($5 and registration required)
• Children’s Garden exploration workshop – (free for ages 2 – 12; and hands-on)
• Balcony Herb Planting - 10 am to 11 am ($2 and registration required)
• Plant Scavenger Hunt – 11 am to 12 am (registration requested)

 Land, Sea, Sky: Celebrate Earth Day at Vanier Park – 10am to 3pm
Vancouver Museum, Maritime Museum, and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, join forces as representation of land, sea and sky to honour Earth with kid-friendly activities. Admission to the first two museums is by donation, with regular fees at the Space Centre. Special activities will be free.

North Vancouver Moodyville Park - Invasive Plant Pull and Fun Activities – 10am to 2pm (rain or shine)
Show your love for Mother Earth by helping to rid the park of invasive plant species. Also, there are educational booths and activities hosted by local environmental and other organizations.


Sunday, April 21

For the Beauty of Earth, Christ Church Cathedral – 3:30 pm (registration requested; Fee: by donation)
Join us for a transcendent Earth Day celebration at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday, April 21st at 3:30pm! For the Beauty of the Earth promises an afternoon of music, imagery, and advocacy.

Tuesday, April 23

Online Stewardship Series: Food Forests - 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm (Free online; Advanced Registration is required)
Stanley Park Ecology welcomes a panel of experts to discuss local food forest initiatives! A food forest or forest garden is a mixed canopy planting of edible plants. Many have been established by Coast Salish Nations and other Indigenous communities in so-called BC with their continued stewardship to the present day.

Saturday, April 27

Earth Fest 2024, Everett Crowley Park – 11 am to 3 pm (free)
Join in on this fun, family-friendly community event celebrating Earth Day!

Party for the Planet, Surrey Civic Plaza – 11 am to 7 pm (free)
Advertised as the biggest Earth Day event in British Columbia, activities include environmental education, a sustainable marketplace, live music, dance performances, Indigenous cultural sharing, kid’s activities, and much more.

Note: This list is only a partial summary. We suggest searching the website for other events near you. You may wish to begin here.