We are blessed to have found a community that cares, one that cares enough about each other to set aside time in their busy lives to do things for the good of the whole. As you may have heard, the Roberts Creek Community Association spearheads a whole lot of what makes the Gumboot Nation a great place to live. They gather an army of volunteers to do a great many things for the whole Creek, and in the case of Earth Day, it’s the whole planet! This Sunday April 24, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Roberts Creek mandala and pier, will see our community gather in numbers we haven’t seen for some time. The mandela stage will be set (by volunteers!) and a fantastic line-up of local (volunteer) musical talent will regale the masses with their sweet sounds. The roadway will be lined with booths to inform you of the things you can do to make the world a better place and there will be local vendors to feed and clothe you too.
The day begins at noon, but it goes back to 1970, when Wisconsin Governor Gaylord Nelson created the first Earth Day. Our local celebration began in 1990, when Pat Ridgway organized Sunshine Coast Earth Day at Sunnycrest Mall, attended by two-thousand people from Earls Cove to Port Mellon. By year two, the Coast’s first recycling depot, SCRAPS was created, initiated by Laurel Sukkau, Gemma Vandermeer, Anne Miles and others, while Ed Lands ran an event at the Trail Bay Mall in Sechelt. In 1992 Ian Ridgeway built a stage at Cliff Gilker Park, and Earth Day had a place in Roberts Creek. In 1996 it moved to the pier, (following the removal of propane tanks there) to connect to the ocean as well as the mountain. Groups such as Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF), Sunshine Coast Forest Watch, Tetrahedron Alliance, Sunshine Coast Environmental Protection, Forest Walkers and Concerned Coast Residents rose up to participate in Earth Day and some are still very active. Many of the original Earth Day participants coalesced to became the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association.
The volunteerism in the Gumboot Nation astounds me, see if there is room for you to help, check out volunteersignup.org/ME9HA. See you Sunday!
The food cupboard beside the library is yet another great thing from the RCCA, stocked by the Salvation Army, but personal donations are encouraged for more varied items. Lately boxes of stuff have been left in the gazebo (to give away?). Maybe there are some useful items but what is left is a lot of broken junk that goes in the garbage. Please take responsibility for removing the things you bring that no one can use.
Elsewhere in the Creek; the 219 has Vancouver singer songwriter Jim Foster gracing the stage on Friday, April 22 at 7 p.m. with DJ Paola PaoPao spinning tunes for the after party, from 10 p.m. onwards.
Saturday night at the little legion is everyone’s favourite Ween Tribute, Captain Fantasy, I won’t miss this one!
