Our life is a parade filled with fun, laughter and a growing number of people travelling towards more sustainable lifestyles.
Saturday, Bolt Across Canada was in Pender Harbour BC for the May day festivities. With locals lining the parade route we were part of the procession which included vintage cars, our favourite MLA Nicholas Simons riding a duck bike, cowgirls riding horses, kilt-wearing bagpipers, 6 legged spotted salmon creations, candy tossing octopus, fire engines, beavers wearing Canadian flags and a gaggle of sparkling kids.
It was the 72nd annual May Day in Pender Harbour and it continues to shine the hometown spirit of the small picturesque community. After the parade the local school field was filled with fun events for the family including bands playing, pony rides for the kids, games and booths with home baking and plants. Lining the field were also information booths including the booth of our friends from the Clean Air Society promoting the adoption of electric vehicles.
In support of the 2 Degree Institute campaign asking people to take the electric car pledge to reduce carbon emissions across the continent, the Clean Air Society director Ryan Logtenberg was manning a booth while answering questions about electric vehicles as people munched on cookies he baked with a solar oven. The electric car pledge is a pledge that when you are ready to buy your next vehicle, you make the next purchase an electric vehicle,. The 2 Degree Institute Electric Car Pledge campaign aims to garner one million pledges by the end of 2017. Individuals can drastically reduce their own carbon footprint through a single decision of making your next cat an electric vehicle.
We also met up with our friends from the Iris Griffith Centre and the Ruby Lake Lagoon Society and learned more about PODS.PODS stands for Pender Harbour Ocean Discovery Station. Biodiversity and environmental health are important components for Pender Harbour life. The Ruby Lake Society has successfully combined conservation, research and education with economic benefit to the community. The Iris Griffith Centre is a hub for research and nature education on the Sunshine Coast and is a great place for local and visitors. The goal to build PODS a marine research and educational centre focusing on the ocean waters of the Georgia Strait. Plans include a year-round conference facility, an interactive aquarium, marine research laboratories and an outdoor classroom. Pender Harbour is emerging at the forefront of eco-tourism and conservation.
Sunday, Rolf and Silke of Tesla X Canada came to visit us. Rolf and Silke crossed Canada in their Tesla towing a trailer. We followed their travels this past year and they certainly inspired us. While we were learning from them they were also pulling out their microphones and cameras to record us. Since returning home they have been busy making presentations about electric vehicle travel. Silke and I over lunch talked about how both our road trips are not the end of the journey of promoting environmental “actionism” - it is the beginning.