KiriKids.com is proud to be a member of 1% for the Planet, an organization that creates and supports alliances between businesses wishing to donate one percent of their profits to good causes around the world.

We had the fantastic opportunity to meet other businesses who’ve taken the 1% pledge when we went to Vancouver’s W2 Café for a presentation by 1% for the Planet and Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) on June 8.

Created by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, 1% is based in Vermont and unites 164 donor businesses in Canada and 1, 470 globally.  Its principle is based on “using market forces to drive really positive change for the planet,” according to Melody Badgett, Senior VP of Marketing, Acquisitions and Partnerships at 1%.

Melody also said that 85 percent of American consumers have a more positive image of a company when it supports causes.  Eighty percent say they prefer the type of third-party certification offered by 1%, which screens NGO’s around the world before hooking them up with their member businesses.

The best part, though, is that 1% for the Planet allows businesses to engage in philanthropic projects that “align donations with their marketing strategy, their brand, and ‘who they are’.  It becomes part of their story.”

MEC, which is 1%’s largest member company in Canada, talked about their inspiring fight for Skaha Bluffs in Penticton, B.C.  The bluffs, a haven for wildlife and climbers alike, were threatened by developers.  MEC donated $250, 000 to the Land Conservancy, and Skaha was saved!  Read more about this inspiring rescue in Climbing.

What environmental causes are you passionate about?  We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Youth 4 Climate Justice organized Vancouver’s Earth Day Parade on Commercial Drive, April 22, 2011

Vancouver’s Earth Day Parade and Celebration on April 22 was colourful, inspiring and a total blast. The most awesome thing about it? It wasn’t organized by politicians or big-time sponsors, but by a group of local high school students who call themselves Youth 4 Climate Justice Now—or Y4CJN if you’re texting.

The parade started at Commercial Drive and Grandview Highway. It was inspiring to see such a large community of all ages gather and take the students’ message to heart!

Costumes and banners at Earth Day Parade, Vancouver, April 22, 2011

When we got to the Britannia Secondary School Field, the Celebrations began with a blast of music from the brass band.

Vancouver Earth Day organizers Youth 4 Climate Change with Ben West (centre)

The students responsible for Y4CJN were joined on the stage by their mentor and co-organizer, Ben West.

Ben is the Climate Campaigner for the Wilderness Committee, an environmental organization that co-organized the event.

Together, they asked the audience to “recycle the peace sign”. The audience obliged, and a sea of hands of rose to the (almost) blue Vancouver sky.

The recycled peace sign had two meanings for the students: let’s stop global temperatures from rising beyond 2 C degrees and let’s petition politicians to do 2 things to stop climate change.

Y4CJN’s suggestions to save the earth:

• Stop building highways
• Build public transit
• End our dependence our oil

What are your suggestions for putting a stop to Climate Change?

Costumes, Earth Day Vancouver 2011

It was the perfect temperature, calm and peaceful as we went through the trees!

Guess the snow bring out the kid in all of us…there’s nothing like making fresh tracks in the snow!

A view of Vancouver from the top of Cypress is always a joy! A portion of the clouds had opened up and the Sun was shining through on the water like a bright spotlight – simply amazing!

On our way back we made a pit stop at the Hollyburn Lodge for some life’s simple pleasures – hot chocolate and poutine!!

All in all, a great day enjoying the beautiful nature so close to home and some fresh inspiration to preserve it!

We had signed up with Evergreen to take part in their invasive plant species removal program and help with weeding Japanese Knotweed growing on the banks of the Fraser River.

Volunteers were provided with a variety of gardening tools and gloves.

Andrew from Evergreen gave us a little demo of how to go about the removal process.  After the demo we were set for some knotweed removal!

The young volunteers got right in, cutting and cleaning the tall bushes. With knotweed it is important to remove and bag all freshly cut stems since it only takes a tiny stem to re- grow into a plant.

Later we informed by our Evergreen coordinators that the volunteers helped remove over 3 cubic meters of knotweed and contributed to Evergreen’s ongoing study of how to best manage the invasive plant.

Another Evergreen member conducting the Blackberry bush removal.

After, we had a chance to check out the other participants:

Rehabilitation Society for Birds of Prey:  www.owlcanada.ca

City of Burnaby Food Scraps Recycling program: www.burnaby.ca/foodscraps

The Land Conservancy: Helping protect the Clearwater Wetlands and Wildlife Corridor

Paul Colangelo:  Local wildlife and nature photographer specializing in editorial assignments and conservation efforts. He had some amazing work displayed on the Sacred Headwaters of B.C.: http://www.paulcolangelo.com/

Learn to fish conducted by Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC – gofishbc.com

Traditional songs being performed on Rivers Day 2010

All in all a great day!

Many photo opportunities for the kids at Burnaby Lake – a beaver appeared, swimming back and forth in front of the young photographers as they snapped away with their cameras.

There was also a green bush with many lady bugs!

And just as many squirrels who were willing to pose for the camera.

Afterwards, the kids printed their favorite photos, which are currently on display at the Burnaby Lake Nature House.

Kiri Kids was there, proud to be a part of the Annual Stoney Creek Salmon Send-off in Burnaby. What a beautiful sunny day here at Stoney Creek.

There’s tons of fun things to do before we head over to the creek to release some salmon.

With a small donation, everyone receives a certificate, and gets to release some baby salmon.

Quite a line-up! Woopie, off the go baby salmon. Hope you return soon to spawn!

We were thrilled when @rookiemommy contacted  and invited us to sponsor their Baby Shower and Book Launch event. We know right away that we want to be involved and show support for this wonderful guide.

“The Survival Guide for Rookie Moms” is great for any first-time moms. It’s priceless to have someone share their physical experience and advice candidly. It’s good to know there’s a guide out there to support any first-time moms so there’s no need to panic.

Cupcakes, fine cheese, wine and chocolates, I was in heaven.

I picked up a copy of the guide for my girlfriend who is expecting her first baby next month. Thank you Erica for signing it, making it an even more special gift.

Our donation is a Kiri Octopus Baby Longsleeve Onesie, and a Kiri Whale Baby Hat – Grass Green. All the proceeds from the raffle are donated to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Even though Veronica and I didn’t win any raffle prizes, we are glad we could help that way.

We are greeted by the friendly miss Harrier!

Eventhough I have taken many walks around Burnaby Lake, I have never been to the pavilion here. There’s a mini dock for canoeing. I got a closer look of the lake and the swamp, where many birdboxes are occupied by the elegant blue swallow.

There are lots of interesting booths to check out. Many of them you get to touch and feel. Wings, bones, fur, nests. The most interesting thing me was seeing the furry owl droppings, they look just like a giant lint ball. Owls can’t digest completely what they eat, so they poop them out. Too bad I don’t have a picture for that. Moving on!

There were hotdogs, free Tim Horton’s coffee and donuts. Kids were busy constructing their very own bird/bee boxes, which were surely the most popular thing. By the time I wanted to make one, they already ran out.

The highly anticipated raffle draws were also popular with many great prizes, including our very own Kiri Koi T-shirt.

We wrapped up the day enlightened, and stuffed with Tim Horton’s donuts. And we hope you will join us next time for another nature event.

For more information about Wildlife Rescue Association of BC and sponsoring them, please visit http://www.wildliferescue.ca/

EarthFest 2010

Sunday, April 25th, 2010
Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Fee: FREE
Location: Burnaby Lake Pavilion, Burnaby, BC Directions & Map
Event Schedule here

Kiri Kids is donating this Swimming Koi design Longsleeve T-shirt (L) for Kids to the raffle draws. we will be at the event, looking forward to the nature walk and bird box-making. Hope to see you all there, if not, we’ll blog about the event, so do come back and read more.