Thank You Richmond Hill by Elfi

Thank You Richmond Hill
by Elfi Berndl

Sunset Beach Tree Planting ~ Earth Day ~ April 22, 2008

On behalf of the staff and students from Richmond Hill here today, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Town of Richmond Hill for organizing this Earth Day 2008 event and for its continued commitment to the environment. You are enabling us to become caring citizens and environmentalists. Because of events like these, we can “Think Globally, and Act Locally”.

At Charles Howitt Public School we have had many opportunities to become active in our community over the last decade thanks to the generous support of the Town of Richmond Hill – not only on Earth Day but throughout the year.

Some of our activities have benefited our students and school directly. With logs provided by the Urban Forestry Division we have been able to have seating in the Bird & Butterfly garden, a log play area in the central courtyard and an outdoor classroom near the Junior playground. With trees donated through the Town’s Arbor Day program we have been able to plant enough trees over the years to establish a small forest which provides much appreciated shade in the hot days of May to October. With mulch delivered in time for our annual Earth Day Electives, we have been able to have all students from grades 1 to 8 get involved in Mulch Madness – a fun and active way to take care of the plants on our school yard.

Other activities supported by the Town of Richmond Hill have allowed our students to go into the community and make a difference. We have picked up trash along our roads and waterways with the support of the Maintenance Department. We have planted wildflowers and thousands of trees at Richvale Greenway, Phyllis Rawlinson Park, Briar Nine Park, Pioneer Park and Hunter’s Point with the support of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department. We have participated in Adopt-A-Stream, Adopt-A-Spot and Adopt-A-Stream Crossing projects. In cooperation with the Town, we have worked with organizations such as the Evergreen Foundation, Ontario Streams, Earth Rangers and Pitch-In Canada to name just a few.

I have spoken to many teachers in York Region about our activities at Charles Howitt and I have come to realize that one of the reasons that we are able to do so much, is that our efforts are supported wholeheartedly by the Town. The Town has policies in place to support citizen involvement and environmental stewardship. The staff hired by the town are knowledgeable, helpful and wonderful to deal with. People like Peter, Ann Marie, Azadeh and Tracey and the people who work in the Natural Heritage department, have made it possible for students to get involved at the grass roots level. The mayor and the councilors have made it possible for these events to continue year after year. They truly care. And today’s event is just the most recent example of this commitment to environmental action on the part of the Town of Richmond Hill. We would like you to know that we appreciate these opportunities to “do our bit”.

In closing, I would like to read a poem by Jane Yolen, a well known children’s author and poet:
EARTH DAY
I am the Earth and the Earth is me.
Each blade of grass, each honey tree,
Each bit of mud, and stick and stone
Is blood and muscle, skin and bone.
And just as I need every bit
Of me to make my body fit,
So Earth needs grass and stone and tree
And things that grow here naturally.
That's why we celebrate this day.
That's why across the world we say:
As long as life, as dear, as free,
I am the Earth and the Earth is me.

Let every day be Earth Day in Richmond Hill. Thank you.