Earth Day 2023

At Royal Roads, we cherish and celebrate our beautiful planet a little more during Earth Week (April 17-21). In addition to a resource-rich library display, there are several sessions planned for students and staff. We’d love for you to join! Please RSVP for the outdoor events by emailing HealthyU@RoyalRoads.ca to let us know which you plan on attending.

Details of the events:

Earth Day exhibit at the library: Live now!

Check out this month’s display at the RRU library in both digital and in-person formats. The library team has compiled several great resources centered around the following themes:

  • From disasters to solutions – climate hope and resilience
  • Engaging businesses in sustainable transformations
  • Engaging governments: the politics of climate change
  • Societal shifts and transformational change in our communities
  • Navigating the inner and interpersonal landscapes of a planet in trouble

It’s a rich collection for those wishing to explore climate, sustainability and environmental issues and solutions. The digital exhibit will be available beyond the end of the month.

Monday, April 17 – Invasive plant session @ 12:00 PM with RRU gardener Jeff Wright

Interested in learning more about invasives or getting some practice with pulling and cutting back invasive plants? Or do you just want to get outside and have some fun? Join Jeff Wright, Gardens & Grounds Supervisor, HealthyU and the Climate Action & Sustainability team for this lunch hour session focused on removing non-thorny invasive plants (Scotch broom and maybe some Daphne laurel).

We’ll meet at the lowest entrance to Charlie’s Trail (near Sneq’wa e’lun) at noon. If you have them, please bring your own gardening gloves, hand clippers, and safety glasses. And of course, dress for the weather and wear rain or sun protection, as needed.

Wednesday, April 19 – Giving Garden tour and no-dig gardening workshop @ 1:00 PM with RRU Food Systems Manger, Solara Goldwynn

Come out for a visit to the RRU Giving Garden, a 3000 square foot no-dig food garden that is only one year old!  Please meet us at 1:00 PM at the south-west gate of the walled garden on the Sherman Jen side, near the large mast. Please dress for some outdoor time and wear shoes that can get muddy.

In this tour and workshop with Solara, we will explore:

  • No-Dig gardening techniques
  • Integrating Indigenous pollinator plants into food gardens
  • Incorporating perennials vegetables for year-round food production
  • Compost systems
  • Community Supported Agriculture and Campus-Community engagement

Solara is the Food Systems Manager at Royal Roads University, and the co-owner of Hatchet & Seed -an edible landscaping and food gardening company in Victoria BC.

Friday, April 21 – Lagoon shore & trail cleanup @ 12:00 PM with RRU gardener Neil Ross

We’re so grateful and lucky we get to work, learn, and play on the traditional lands of the Xwsepsum and Lekwungen ancestors and families. One other thing to be thankful for is being located near the Esquimalt lagoon which is a nationally recognized migratory bird sanctuary. Unfortunately, with tides, winds and human visitors, garbage does tend to collect on the shoreline of the lagoon and nearby trails. Would you like to contribute your earth-loving energy and show your gratitude by taking part in a cleanup walk? Well, we’ve got just the opportunity for you!

Join us for a lunch hour clean up and walk with Neil Ross, HealthyU and the Climate Action & Sustainability team. We’ll meet between the Boat House and Sneq’wa e’lun at noon. Bring your own gloves and sun protection please. Buckets and bags will be provided (and we’ll have some disposable gloves available too).

Here are some other opportunities to make a difference or show the Earth some love:

Find out more about RRU’s Climate Action and Sustainability initiatives, plans and news.

Check out the CENIC Speaker Series held online Tuesday evenings in April: https://www.colwood.ca/news-events/community-calendar/event/cenic-speakers-series-spring-2023-march-28

No matter where you are in the world, you can use iNaturlatist to help log biodiversity data using your phone. Another option is to join an iNaturalist BioBlitz such as this Earth Day blitz in Victoria on Apr.22: https://bioblitzcanada.ca/events_community-victoria.aspx

Join the CRD Earth Day Celebration Apr. 22 from 11am-2pm at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park: https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/events/event/2023/04/22/default-calendar/earth-day-celebration-(drop-in-event)-all-ages

Celebrate Earth Day with the Greater Victoria Green Team by Planting Native Shrubs at Ocean View Park on Apr.23 https://www.meetup.com/greater-victoria-green-team/events/292554413/

Some other resources to check out:

Let Every Day be Earth Day – Indigenous BC

8 Meaningful Actions You Can Take This Earth Day – The Earth Institute