There are plenty of ways to celebrate Earth Day weekend in District 69.
Earth Day cake, music, fun and environmental displays will kick off the 12th annual Earth Day celebration in Qualicum Beach starting with a cake cutting at the Town Hall square at noon on Saturday, April 21.
“We invite the public to join in the celebration of the Town of Qualicum Beach’s acquisition of the Town-owned 3.5 hectare portion of the Qualicum Beach Salmon Forest, to which Island Timberlands had the logging rights,” said Annette Tanner, Wilderness Committee spokesperson.
“The timely purchase by the Town and community donations has now protected the 3.5 hectares, that supplies the community’s drinking water wells,” said Tanner.
The community has been working for 13 years to have the entire 60-hectare floodplain forest protected as a Regional Park.
“Several thousand people have toured through the floodplain forest owned by Island Timberlands to see the still unprotected third tallest unprotected Sitka Spruce tree in Canada and have continuously written letters supporting the Town’s and the Regional District’s efforts to preserve the forest’s globally identified sensitive ecosystems,” said Tanner.
The Little Qualicum River is known as one of the most popular fishing and wildlife viewing rivers that supports all seven species of salmonids.
On Sunday, the annual tour of the Qualicum Beach Salmon Forest to aforementioned Sitka Spruce tree, will take place at 1 p.m.
Participants can meet at junction of Kinkade Road and the Old Island Highway, next to Riverside Resort in Qualicum Beach.
In Parksville there is an Earth Day event on Saturday, April 21.
The Ermineskin Walk ‘n Talk is at the West end terminus of Despard Avenue on Saturday from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
You can dip your fish net into Hamilton Marsh on Sunday April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during an Earth Day tour.
The free event is organized by the Friends of French Creek Conservation Society — Hamilton Marsh Committee in cooperation with Island Timberlands and is sponsored by the Nature Trust as part of the Brant Wildlife Festival. Organizers are advising participants to dress warm for the tour. The trail to the marsh can be wet and muddy. No dogs allowed. There will be microscopes set up at the marsh with jars of bugs.
If you are looking for something more peaceful to mark Earth Day on April 22 there will be soothing music by musician Peter Jack Rainbird and a stone Labyrinth in Qualicum Beach.
A Labyrinth is a winding circular pathway used today as a walking meditation for health and wellness.
It’s a spiritual tool, according to local occupational therapist Holly Carnegie Letcher, who is hosting the event.
Participants can set personal goals to take care of mother nature at the event which takes place at Solace Cottage HeartStone Labyrinth, 180 Cores Road in North Qualicum Beach.
Admission is by a suggested donation of $10 per person or $15 for a family with all proceeds to the Wilderness Committee.
If you are looking for an opportunity to set a goal, big or small, to make a difference, to make a plan to take care of our Earth you are invited to the event which goes Sunday April 22 from 1-3 p.m.
World Labyrinth Day also quickly approaching, so set your calendar for Saturday May 5 to celebrate from 6 to 8 p.m.
