Earth Day finally and officially arrived in Centre Wellington on June 4.
The event was postponed because of a nasty snowstorm on the original date, April 22.
The alternative date coincided with World Environmental Day. A good crowd came out to view the displays at MacDonald Square in Elora.
Toni Ellis, chair of NeighbourWoods and organizer of the event, thanked everyone for doing their part in making Centre Wellington, “Greener and a little bit cleaner.”
Ellis introduced Mayor Kelly Linton, an advocate of saving trees in the area.
Linton provided some information about where Centre Wellington is headed as far as energy conservation is concerned and noted 200 Green Legacy trees had recently been planted in the area.
The township, in conjunction with Centre Wellington Hydro, is moving to replace the area’s 1,900 inefficient street lights with new modern, energy efficient ones. This has leveraged a $230,000 grant from the province.
Council wanted to do this project without adding to the taxes. Linton estimates the money should be recovered through savings within six or seven years. He also said township buildings are being upgraded for energy efficiency.
The emerald ash borer beetle is a concern in the area and local officials are working toward eradicating that problem and, along with NeighbourWoods, are identifying the ash trees before starting treatment.
“We have a responsibility to protect our environment that we all share and that we will be leaving to our children,” Linton said.
To make the point that trees are “superheroes” in the community several people came dressed in capes.
