Switch off, show the love for our planet on Saturday's Earth Hour

Switch off and show your love for our planet Saturday, March 30 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. for Earth Hour​​ 2019.

Every year, millions of people around the world switch off for Earth Hour to shine a light on climate action. 

You can be a part of the movement toward building a better tomorrow for our planet and future generations by powering down for one hour this weekend.

It all began as a symbolic lights out event in Sydney in 2007, and now the World Wildlife Foundation's Earth Hour has grown to become the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment, inspiring individuals, communities, businesses and organizations in more than 180 countries and territories to take action and raise awareness about climate change.

The Town of Newmarket will be participating itself, with all town facilities shutting off all non-essential lights, said Ward 4 Councillor Trevor Morrison, co-facilitator of the Newmarket event.

This year, the Regional Municipality of York is joining cities and towns around the world in turning off all non-essential lights to support and recognize Earth Hour.

Non-essential lights will switch off at the following four locations Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.:

• York Region Administrative Centre, 17250 Yonge St., Newmarket
• York Region South Services Centre, 50 High Tech Rd., Richmond Hill
• York Region Transportation Operations Centre, 90 Bales Dr., East Gwillimbury
• York Region Community and Health Services, 9060 Jane St., Vaughan

In 2018, Alectra Utilities, which serves portions of York Region and Simcoe County, recorded a total savings of 1.5 per cent less electricity used across York Region and Simcoe Country during Earth Hour — enough electricity to power 1,314 average-size homes for over a 24-hour period.

If you haven’t considered Earth Hour plans yet, there’s still time. The Region suggests five ways you can have some fun while showing love for our planet:

• Invite friends and family over for a candle-lit dinner or game night
• Enjoy a moonlit walk
• Have a conversation with someone you haven’t talked to in a while
• Have your family draw self-portraits in the dark
• Reflect or come up with ideas for using less energy beyond the hour

"It's an opportunity for families to get creative," Ward 1 Councillor Grace Simon, co-facilitator of the Town's initiative, said at last night's council meeting. "You can make it an easy, fun, educational period for our children."

You can join the online conversation using #Connect2Earth and #NewmarketEarthHour and share what you are doing to power down and shine a light on climate action by making Earth Hour 2019 in Newmarket the biggest one yet.