April 22 is Earth Day — have you found a way to get involved?

By Laura Bohnert
April 22 is Earth Day, and Whitecourt is offering a few ways for you to participate.
How about free transit to start? The Town of Whitecourt is offering free service on Whitecourt Transit this Wednesday, April 22 in celebration of Earth Day.
“Earth day is celebrated each year on April 22nto encourage Canadians to make environmentally responsible choices,” explains Rachel Soderquist, Transit Co-ordinator for the Town of Whitecourt. “2015 marks the 25th year that Earth Day will be officially celebrated by millions of participants in Canada,” Soderquist continues, and in celebration the Town of Whitecourt “encourages everyone to clean your commute this year.”
Whitecourt Transit will offer free fares from 7a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22.
“We encourage all residents to use transit to get to work, school, or play on Earth Day,” urges Soderquist. “It’s a great opportunity to try the new transit service that started in the fall of 2014.”
Further, as Soderquist explains, “Public transit can reduce the production of greenhouse gases by one-third compared to single-passenger vehicles, as well as reduce traffic congestion and vehicle operating costs.” So, free transit is more than just a perk for you, it’s a way to contribute to the well-being of the environment, too.
Free transit isn’t all you can participate in this Earth Day; you can also learn about fast-growing woody biomass in the Energy Production Chain tour.
The free, all-day bus tour takes place on Wednesday, April 22. It starts out in Edmonton, then takes you through the Whitecourt willow plantations before heading on to the Camrose County heating plant.
Whitecourt has been investing in a test project that is studying the ability of fast-growing trees to provide major sources of green energy, and the tour enables you to take a first-hand look at how the project works.
The fast-growing willows, which have been irrigated with the Town of Whitecourt’s municipal wastewater as a means of wastewater treatment, show a lot of potential as woody biomass. The multi-stemmed trees can grow up to 4.5 metres in a growing cycle, and it only takes three years for the trees to be ready for harvest. Then, once they are cut down to ground level, the willows re-sprout and are ready for harvesting in another three years. This process can be repeated for up to 24 years. Once harvested, the trees will be cut, chipped, dried, and burned in the Camrose County’s district heating system. Want to learn more? Join the tour!
You can register online for the tour at: https://www.gprc.ab.ca/ce/courses/details.html?ID=ARO01&cat=404.
For updated maps and schedules or information on Whitecourt’s free transit day, you can visit www.whitecourt.ca. For more information on Earth Day, please visit earthday2015.ca – and remember to have a happy Earth Day!