Open Letter Earth Day

February 11, 2008

Dear Students, Families and Staff:

RE: Earth Hour 60 – March 29, 2008 8-9pm

Last year, Sydney, Australia hosted Earth Hour to inspire people to take action on climate change. The people of Sydney were asked to turn off their lights for one hour. And they did. On March 31, 2007, 2.2 million people and 2,100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour.

What was the result? This effort reduced Sydney's energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for one hour.

Many major global cities are joining Earth Hour 2008, including Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal.

On March 29, 2008 at 8pm, Toronto will be the lead city in Canada participating in Earth Hour. In addition, people in cities around the world will unite and switch off for Earth Hour.

The goal in Toronto is to get at least one million Torontonians to participate in this event and to make the city as dark as possible for one hour. All City of Toronto buildings and other major businesses have committed to powering down for Earth Hour. Toronto Hydro will measure the drop of the collective electricity use during the event.

Even though we don't live in Toronto, we can still participate.

Everyone in Canada is encouraged to participate. Let's support the efforts of the World Wildlife Fund Canada. Participating in Earth Hour is a simple way to show that you want to be part of the solution.

Earth Hour is a straightforward way for York Region's municipalities and citizens to take action and celebrate our existing efforts to fight climate change.

For more information, visit www.earthhour.org.


Make a difference!



Bill Hogarth Diane Giangrande

Director of Education Chair of the Board


Thank Bob H.