Earth Hour in Canada 2013

It’s that time of year again, the time when for an hour in the evening the lights will go out.  Not because of a loss of power (hopefully) but in a unified attempt to raise awareness for a cause that affects us all.  On Saturday March 23, from 8:30 p.m. -9:30 p.m (all local times) it will be dark thanks to Earth Hour.

Earth Hour began as an Australian initiative to “start a dialogue about what we as individuals can do to help address the greatest problem (climate change) facing our planet today”.   Earth Hour Executive Director and Co-Founder, Andy Ridley partnered with WWF Australia’s Leo Burnett and Fairfax Media In 2007 to address the climate change issue and the result, Earth Hour was born.

March 31, 2007 the inaugural Earth Hour was held in Sydney Australia with some 2.2 million Sydneysiders and 2100 businesses said to have particapted.  But that was only the begining as international interest was high and cities began signing up for the next Earth Hour campaign.

Canada’s own City of Toronto was the first city to sign-up to Earth Hour in 2008 after the first years  success in Sydney and It wasn’t long before over 400 cities in 35 countries quickly followed suit making it a truly global movement.

By 2012 Earth Hour’s numbers had grown to unseen levels  breaking records to cement itself as the largest voluntary action for the environment, with more than 6950 cities and towns across 152 countries and territories taking part.

Hydro companies coast to coast are reminding Canadians to only turn off non-essential lighting in the interest of  public safety. And, if using candles, not to leave them unattended.

Toronto Hydro representatives will be monitoring electricity use in Toronto before, during and after Earth Hour this Saturday.  You can follow @torontohydro on Twitter for live updates.

SOURCE: Toronto Hydro Corporation

SOURCE: earthhour.org

Be sure to keep tuned into Awesome Canada for the latest breaking Canadian news, Canadian reviews and the most up to date Hockey news and NHL trade rumours as well as the latest on the Toronto Blue Jays, Canadian MLS teams and the CFL. If you have a story or article idea you would like us to feature please feel free to email us or to fill out our contact form, and we will be sure to investigate and possibly feature your idea. Dont forget to sign up for Awesome Canada’s latest contest for your chance to win a great prize.