Six-year-old Lavender Laforet had only been at the Environmental Fair for a few minutes but she was already imparting the wisdom she gained to her parents.
"Don't smoke because it's bad for the environment," the blond-haired tike told them. After catching the attention of a curious sa国际传媒 reporter, she shared more environmental rules to live by.
"No picking flowers, no cutting down trees," she said.
Jennifer and Joel Laforet decided to take Lavender and her eight-year-old brother Kalub to yesterday's fair in Centennial Square hoping they would learn something about the environment. They were glad to see they had.
"When the kids are saying that, hopefully it will inspire others," Jennifer Laforet said.
The fair followed Earth Walk, a parade that started at noon on the legislature lawn and made its way to City Hall from Government Street.
Now in its 28th year, the parade attracted about 1,500 people, said one of the organizers, Leah Potter.
Music from live performers filled the square as some practised yoga on the grass and others twirled hula hoops around their waists.
With a provincial election looming, the event will remind people to take environmental issues into account when casting their ballots, said Matt Melanson, a representative for the Western sa国际传媒 Wilderness Committee, who was circulating a petition to protect old-growth trees.
The fact that polls show the economy and crime have trumped the environment as the top priorities for voters doesn't worry Potter. "I think the environment is just as much as a concern for people as it has been," Potter said.
And if you really want to know why environmental issues are important, just ask Lavender.
"You should care about the Earth because if no one takes care of the Earth, it would be all dirty and it wouldn't be clean."
