Earth Day will be celebrated around the world April 22 and many are expanding the

45-year-old celebration into several days or even Earth Week, with events kicking off this Saturday in Qualicum Beach.

The Wilderness Committee, Mid-Island Chapter's Earth Day weekend starts noon Saturday, April 18, in Qualicum Beach's Town Hall Square, with a cake cutting and welcoming by Qualicum First Nation Chief Michael Recalma.

"Environmental educational displays will be ongoing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.," said Annette Tanner, Wilderness Committee spokesperson.  "Learning about taking care of our rich environmental heritage will be fun by meeting several of the many groups of volunteers in our community, including the North Island Wildlife Recovery's famous Bardo, the Bard Owl," she said.

The following day a celebration of nature will take place in the Qualicum Beach Salmon Forest with a two-hour tour by donation to the third tallest sitka spruce tree in the country.

"Since 2000, we have been working to protect this 60-hectare riparian floodplain forest along the Little Qualicum River where the Town of Qualicum Beach and the community of Dashwood draw their drinking water," Tanner said.

"The annual Earth Day guided tours have resulted in massive support for the protection of this globally imperilled ecosystem that safeguards our community drinking water source. It is our hope that this rare forest and record sitka spruce will be protected soon."

Dogs are discouraged in the active wildlife area during nesting season. People should meet at 1 p.m. at the junction of Kinkade Road and Old Island Highway next to Riverside Resort in Qualicum Beach. Call 250-752-6585 for more information.

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Photo Credit: Michael Wheatley