Mission residents can celebrate Earth Day at Fraser River Heritage Park next Saturday (April 26).
The annual Green Living event hosted by Mission Environmental Stewardship Society (MESS) is slated for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with performances, guest speakers, eco-exhibitors, vendors and more.
MESS executive director Kimberly Howitt says the organization's long-term strategy is to promote sustainable living to Mission families and youth.
"We really think it's important to raise good habits in Mission's youth. They're our future of how the environment is going to look," Howitt said.
The event at Fraser River Heritage Park will also feature activities for kids, along with resources on how Missionites can be more sustainable and eco-friendly.
"We're just trying to provide the community with resources for them to be more sustainable because sometimes it's hard to find new solutions. So through our event, hopefully they can find more ways," Howitt said.
Howitt says supporting local businesses and initiatives, along with being conscious of how actions impact the environment, are ways for locals to be more eco-friendly.
MESS also hosted a downtown clean-up last weekend in collaboration with the Mission Downtown Business Association and Fraser Valley Junk Solutions.
Over 30 volunteers came out to tidy downtown Mission and remove litter. Roughly 300 pounds of garbage was removed during Saturday's clean-up (April 12).
"It was a really great collaboration with different groups. It was really nice to see everyone come out on a sunny day and collect litter," Howitt said.
Howitt urges Mission residents to get involved with MESS. The non-profit receives funding to provide opportunities to pick up litter either through public events or on residents' own time.
MESS is still running its Adopt-A-Block program, which provides free equipment to clean up neighbourhoods, along with a Litter Busters Club, which allows children aged five to 11 to receive a free litter-picking kit.
