Each year on April 22, people around the world celebrate Earth Day as a time to honour achievements of the environmental movement and raise awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. 

This year’s theme from EarthDay.Org, the global organizer of Earth Day, is Planet vs. Plastics. Calling attention to the environmental impact of plastics, the theme unites groups and individuals in a commitment to call for the end of plastics and demand a 60% reduction in the production of plastics by 2040 and a plastic-free future. 

Hear from U of G researchers as they reflect on how we can achieve plastic reduction and check out upcoming ways to get involved in sustainability on campus. 

Earth Day events on campus

Celebrate Earth Day with these events happening across campus: 

• Green Bites: Exploring Plant-Based Nutrition for Earth Month

  Join OpenEd at University of Guelph for Green Bites: Exploring Plant-Based Nutrition for Earth Month! Hear from Dr. Nanci Guest, renowned researcher and instructor in the University of Guelph’s Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate program. Learn valuable information on the positive impacts of a plant-based diet, gain insightful tips on how to start your own sustainable garden, and engage in a Q&A session with our host.

  • Thursday, April 18, noon (Virtual) 

• Arboretum Spring Clean-Up

  Celebrate Earth month by helping to clean-up the litter in the Arboretum and enjoy the spring weather. Gloves, pickers, and garbage bags will be provided and volunteers can join after for lunch.

  • Monday, April 22, 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. (Arboretum)

• Give & Go: A Waste Prevention Initiative

  Moving at the end of the semester and have items you no longer need? Donate them to Give & Go, a waste prevention and reduction initiative that collects gently-used items from students as they move out and rehomes them to local campus or community organizations, such as the U of G Free Store. Visit the Give & Go website for a list of accepted donation items.

  • Mondays through Fridays from Thursday, April 11 to Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Peter Clark Hall Wing B, 100B, University Centre). 

• Sustainability @ U of G: Discussions to Take Action

  Join us for an inspiring and interactive workshop designed to empower University of Guelph staff to take meaningful action towards sustainability in their personal and professional lives. In this workshop, Samantha Casey from the University of Guelph Sustainability Office will lead you through practical strategies and actionable steps for integrating sustainability practices into your daily routines and work life. It will also explore how YOU can help advance sustainability at the University of Guelph and what current initiatives and projects exist.   

  • Tuesday, April 23, 12:15 to 1 p.m. (Hybrid – University Centre 332 & online) 

U of G researchers making climate impacts

• Alumna Emily De Sousa Advocates for our Oceans, One Drop at a Time
  Emily De Sousa, an advocate for sustainable seafood based in Niagara, ON, and alumna of the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences is a champion in ocean conservation efforts. Through her platform, Seaside with Emily, she offers a one-of-a-kind resource for coastal enthusiasts and seafood aficionados alike.
• Creative Writing Prof. Inspires Action Through Climate Crisis Writing
  Catherine Bush is an associate professor of Creative Writing in the School of English and Theatre Studies in the College of Arts. During an interview with the College of Arts’ Marketing and Communications team, Bush discussed her unique approaches to drawing attention to critical ecological and environmental issues in her research, writing, and teaching.
• Contemporary Art History and Theory Prof. Underscores the Importance of Collaboration in Addressing Environmental Issues
  Dr. Amanda Boetzkes is a professor of Contemporary Art History and Theory within the School of Fine Art and Music (SOFAM) in the College of Arts. Boetzkes has made significant contributions to art history literature through her publications including Plastic Capitalism: Contemporary Art and the Drive to Waste, The Ethics of Earth Art, and Ecologicity, Vision and the Planetarity of Art, while continuing to address pressing issues such as climate change.
• History Prof. Studies the History of Science, Environment and Technology Its Impact on the Natural World
  Dr. Alex Souchen, assistant professor in the Department of History in the College of Arts, is an esteemed faculty member recognized for his expertise in history and environmental studies. Through his role, Souchen is deeply engaged in teaching and research endeavors, aiming to uncover the intricate relationship between human history and the natural world.
• Creating a More Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Food System
  Reducing greenhouse gases from crop production is the goal of a new international research collaboration whose Canadian component is led by Dr. Claudia Wagner-Riddle, a professor in Ontario Agricultural College’s School of Environmental Sciences.