Residents celebrate Earth Day with crafts, litter cleanup

Despite some wetter conditions Saturday, residents are still finding lots of ways to celebrate Earth Day this year – particularly in the downtown area.

Members of the Sault Climate Hub and Korah Collegiate’s ‘Colts Go Green’ are teaming up at the Art Gallery of Algoma this afternoon to provide kids with various earth-friendly crafts and activities.

Helping coordinate Saturday’s Earth Day festivities are Grade 9 Korah students Lila Jarrett and Katie Real, who have both taken an active interest in the environment this year.

“We’re doing some recycling challenges at Korah and we’re trying to get the cafeteria to incorporate more vegetarian options,” Jarrett says. “I was always interested in this sort of stuff.”

Tobin Kern, one of the volunteers with the Sault Climate Hub, says he enjoys providing educational and fun opportunities for locals to learn more about the planet - especially on Earth Day.

“Earth Day is important because it gives us the opportunity to talk to people about the environment and reflect on the importance of the natural world and what we can do to keep it thriving,” he says.

Until 4 p.m., the Art Gallery will be collecting recycled items that can be used for their art classes, including:

• Plastic containers
• Egg cartons
• Wine corks
• New/gently used art supplies
• Fabric and sewing notions
• Wool, ribbon, string
• Magazines
• Paper
• Styrofoam trays
• Sponges
• Beads and buttons

Meanwhile, some light rain hasn’t kept residents away from collecting garbage today as the Indigenous Friendship Centre is hosting a litter cleanup next to the Art Gallery.

The James L. McIntyre Centennial Library is also providing children with Earth Day-themed games and crafts.