Embassy of the United States Ottawa, Canada

Patricia Thompson of the Stanley Park Ecology Society leads an educational nature walk for children in Vancouver's Stanley Park

Earth Day is marked by countries around the world by taking part in green activities that promote the protection of our environment. While the modern environmental movement in the U.S. began forty years ago, it continues to grow as we seek to limit the harmful effects of our impact on the planet. Between the United States and Canada, there's no greater area that benefits from our cooperation as we work together to keep our shared air, soil, and water clean, and protect our ecosystems. We celebrated Earth Day (April 22nd) and the 2011 International Year of the Forest at each of our consulates and at the Embassy in Ottawa throughout the month of April. Here are some of the activities and events we participated in with our neighbors in Toronto, Calgary, Halifax, Vancouver and Ottawa.

In Toronto, the Consulate invited city Councilor Norm Kelly, the Chair of the Parks and Environment Committee for the City of Toronto, to brief staff on the city's "Green Initiatives" including water reclamation projects, low flow toilet legislation, measures to protect the Great Lakes water supply, and a discussion on invasive species that kill trees, and soil erosion in park lands caused by water runoff. The Consulate staff also gave Councilor Kelly an overview of the Consulate's energy efficiency initiatives that support Secretary Clinton's Greening Diplomacy Initiative, and discussed how they could share experiences and expand mutual efforts with the City of Toronto. Consular Chief Mark Bysfield and staff members also participated in the City of Toronto's 20-Minute Makeover for the third year in a row to help clean up the local neighborhood, and promote environmental awareness and civic pride.

In Calgary, Consul General Laura Lochman joined the Alberta Wilderness Association's 20^th Annual Climb for Wilderness, a fundraiser held each year in celebration of Earth Day to increase public awareness of wilderness, wildlife and wild water in Alberta by climbing all 802 stairs of the Calgary Tower. The Consulate donated a collection of 2011 State Department Earth Day posters in recognition of AWA's contribution to our communities. The Consulate also partnered with the Calgary Board of Education, which has 72 EcoSite schools, to hold an Earth Day contest. Consul General Lochman visited the winning school –- Wildwood Elementary –- for a special Earth Day assembly and presented the school with a set of Scholastic Books on World Environment, a 2011 State Department Earth Day poster and a certificate of achievement. The Grade 5 students then proudly took the opportunity to show their documentary, "Tiny Footprints Making a Big Difference", which displays the school's efforts to reduce waste in their community. The documentary was shown at the 2010 Calgary International Film Festival, and can currently be viewed online.

In Halifax, the Consulate hosted an Earth Day Art Contest for K-9 students. The Consulate was earth-friendly by advertising the contest by email, the web, and Twitter, thereby saving paper. They received over 100 entries with messages and slogans, which were judged by a panel of local environmental leaders. The winners received prizes including Scholastic book sets, an Earth Day poster, and Earth Day postcards, presented by Consul General Anton Smith. The judges picked 3 winners and 14 honorable mentions. The contest was a great way to remind local students of the U.S. origin of Earth Day.

In Vancouver, our Consulate expanded Earth Day celebrations to encompass the entire month of April. The Consulate's Public Affairs staff visited elementary and secondary schools in Vancouver and Burnaby, and participated in a Youth Sustainability Day hosted by Burnaby North Secondary School. The Consulate also visited the Vancouver Aquarium, the Stanley Park Ecology Society, Telus Science World, and the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC bringing Earth Day posters, and taking part in the City of Vancouver's annual Earth Day celebration on April 30. The municipal celebration was held at Everett Crowley Park, which is constructed on reclaimed land that was a landfill site from 1944 to 1967.

In Ottawa, speakers armed with Department of State Earth Day posters made school visits. Among them was our Cultural and Educational Affairs Officer, who donated a set of Scholastic Books on World Environment to Hopewell Avenue Public School. Two of our environmental experts at the Embassy took part in a science fair at Ashbury College, asking questions and assessing the students' projects.

Finally, talking about Earth Day is a good time to shine a spotlight on GLOBE program. GLOBE -- Global Learning Observations to Benefit the Environment -- is a world-wide hands-on science and education program for primary and secondary students, supporting a collaboration between students, teachers, and scientists on inquiry-based investigations of the environment and the Earth system, in partnership with NASA, NOAA, and NSF Earth System Science Projects. Two of our environmental experts at the embassy also took part in a science fair at Ashbury College, asking questions and assessing the students' projects.

To see more on our Earth Day celebrations, check out our photo gallery!