The Department of Technology and Environment is offering Island schools a free Wild Apple tree to plant in commemoration of Earth Day, April 22, 2000 and Earth Week, April 15-30, 2000.
The Wild Apple was chosen for its hardiness and ability to offer food to wildlife. Schools across the province will be receiving a fax-back order sheet during the week of April 16, 2000 and trees will be delivered by the province's conservation officers during Earth Week, April 25-28, 2000.
"I encourage all teachers, youth and Home and School Associations to work together to celebrate Earth Day or Earth Week in a meaningful way," said Mitch Murphy, Minister of Technology and Environment. "Right across the country, people of all ages will be planting trees, cleaning up their communities, staging displays and events to honour the preciousness and fragility of our Earth."
All participating schools are encouraged to involve their community in tree planting events. The month of May presents several opportunities for planting ceremonies as National Forest Week is May 7-13 and Arbour Day is May 19.
Three of all participating schools will have the opportunity to win an Earth Day flag for their school which will be presented in May.
Celebrated every April 22, Earth Day is the largest, most observed environmental event worldwide. More than six million Canadians join 500 million people in over 164 countries in staging events and projects to address local environmental issues. Nearly every school child in Canada takes part in an Earth Day activity.
For more information, contact the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Technology and Environment at 368-6664. The nation-wide Web site for Earth Day is www.earthday.ca.