In the spirit of togetherness, education and environmental action, a group of local advocates hold a one-day Sidney Summit to B次元官网网址渂uild a better planet one backyard at a time.B次元官网网址�

The day-long event, Nov. 10 at the Mary Winspear Centre, is open to the public and will feature speakers Robert Bateman, Bob McDonald of the CBC, Federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May and local Green MLA Adam Olsen.

More than 20 B次元官网网址渉abitat-caringB次元官网网址� organizations will meet with participants to discuss how to best support and sustain the Saanich Peninsula.

RELATED:

Bill Collins, co-chair of the Summit, said the idea was born from a handful of conversations between locals who felt more support on projects like the Residents of Reay Creek B次元官网网址� which he manages B次元官网网址� could result in a bigger impact, environmentally.

B次元官网网址淲e could do a more timely job in getting it done if there was a bigger voice in the community,B次元官网网址� he says of the Reay Creek clean-up. B次元官网网址淭he voices exist, theyB次元官网网址檙e just not collective enough.B次元官网网址�

Collins sees the Summit as a way to bring local advocacy groups like his, Peninsula Streams Society and Friends of John Dean Park together and B次元官网网址渕aybe influence policy makers at all levels of government.B次元官网网址�

LETTER:

There is a challenge to the enormity of a concept like climate change, where the average person wonders what their contribution can do, Collins explains.

But, it can be as simple as planting species in your own backyard that are better for the native habitat, reducing waste by simply buying less, or buying local, cutting down on greenhouse gases that vehicles can emit.

B次元官网网址淢onarch butterflies are an endangered species,B次元官网网址� he points out. B次元官网网址淲hy not plant some flowers that the monarch likes?B次元官网网址�

The goal of the Summit is to help inspire the general public into taking action by connecting them with local organizations and municipal leaders to brainstorm collaborative efforts, Collins says.

Throughout the day, speakers will touch on a variety of subjects including the ways in which local First Nations first lived in the area, how communities can better exist along natural spaces in shared habitats and insight from McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 findings as a science journalist.

RELATED:

The evening ends with a long table dinner featuring local chefs preparing food sourced from local producers, followed by a performance from local pop-jazz quartet, Mildly Wild.

Everybody wants to have a clean healthy environment, says Collins, who believes the community is B次元官网网址渞eally hungry for the conversation.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e hope everybody leaves with a small internal resolve to do at least one thing to do their part.B次元官网网址�

For more information, visit

Like us on and follow us on