This year, April 22 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
Every year, the City of Toronto hosts a 20-minute makeover to mark Earth Day. This year, the York community is invited to take part by cleaning up the Keele and Glendon campuses. York's 20-minute makeover will take place on Friday, April 23 at 2pm. The concept behind the makeover is simple – people are asked to stop what they are doing and get outside to clean up areas adjacent to their homes and offices, including parks, schoolyards, boulevards and other public spaces..jpg)
York University is a registered participant in this year's makeover and staff in the University's Campus Services & Business Operations (CSBO) are organizing a targeted effort for both the Keele and Glendon campuses.
The Grounds Department in CSBO will provide work gloves and trash bags for litter pickup at the designated meeting spots on Keele and Glendon campuses. The four woodlots on the Keele campus – Danby Woods, Boynton Woods, Osgoode Woodlot and Boyer Woodlot – along with the surrounding areas and the Arboretum will be the focus for this year's makeover. Glendon community members are asked to meet at the Gatehouse located at the entrance to the campus. A map of designated meeting points for York's 20-minute makeover will be published next week in YFile and Ylife.
Earth Day is also a time to think about your personal commitment to sustainability – and to demonstrate it by contributing to making your community a better environment. Take your bike or transit to work, commit to use only a reusable mug and water bottle, work in natural light if you have a window and help restore your community by joining cleanup and tree planting efforts. Take a pledge to advocate for climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs. Every gesture makes a difference.
For more information, visit the City of Toronto's 20-Minute Makeover Web site. For more earth-friendly initiatives, visit the Yorkwise Web site.