City of Kitchener set to go dark for Earth Hour

Tonight, millions of people across the world will turn off all the lights in their homes and businesses to celebrate Earth Hour.

Earth Hour first started out as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, and now it’s the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment.

City of Kitchener Natural Areas Coordinator Josh Shea says the city will be participating in the event, and encourages others to do the same.

“The nice thing about Earth Hour, and the easiest thing about Earth Hour is it’s all up to ourselves individually to be able to do something. So all you really have to do is try to remember at 8:30 p.m., to turn off your lights for an hour around your home, business, or office.

Shea says Earth Hour is a grassroots movement that demonstrates our commitment towards environmental initiatives, and to reduce our impact on climate change.

The City of Kitchener will be shutting off the lights at their community centres, City Hall in the downtown will be shut off during the hour period, except for safety lights, and the operations facility will also be following the practice.

Shea adds that although we celebrate Earth Hour Saturday night for an hour, it’s something very simple that people can do all year long, any day of the week.