People around the world, including here in the Foothills, will be turning off the lights tonight to mark Earth Hour.
The global initiative organized by the World Wildlife Fund encourages everyone — individuals, businesses, governments and more — to turn off non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time.
Held annually on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour is a symbol of society’s commitment to the planet.
Although turning off lights during Earth Hour reduces energy worldwide, the initiative is a symbolic action in support of the planet by creating awareness of our ecological footprint and the need to take responsibility for a sustainable future.
Earth Hour started as a lights-off event in Australia in 2007 and has since expanded into a worldwide campaign.
Locally, Kathy Coutts from the Okotoks Museum and Archives and one of the Town’s conservation educators will lead a free Earth Hour-related tour of historic downtown Okotoks from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. today.
Participants will learn the history of Okotoks and some of the environmental initiatives underway in town.
Meet at the Okotoks Museum and Archives at 49 North Railway St.
