Earth Day Walk

Mother Nature cooperated! We had a lovely sunny day for the official opening of the Carleton Place Community labyrinth on Sunday April 22nd, 2018.  Spring has seemed to be a long time coming this year - and our Earth Day walk was definitely a celebration of Spring's arrival!

Earth Day labyrinth walkers were encouraged to take part in a Spring Scavenger hunt.

Hello everyone –
Welcome to the Community Labyrinth.
Today is Earth Day. 

This is a day where we celebrate the environment, and where we raise awareness for the care of our planet.

It was first started in 1970 – so we’re coming up on almost 50 years.The founder of Earth Day was Gaylord Nelson, a US senator from Wisconsin. After witnessing the ravages of the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara California in 1969, he came up with the idea for a national day to focus on the environment.

He was inspired by the peace movements of that era. He realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda.

Within 10 years, this movement spread to Canada as well as many other countries.  Today, millions of people take part in activities on Earth Day. It is celebrated in 193 countries around the world.

The importance of Earth Day lies in first creating awareness, and from awareness, we can create change. For 2018, the theme for the International Earth Day Network is “End Plastic Pollution”.  The goal is to inspire a fundamental change in attitudes towards the use of plastics.

The goal of the Earth Day Network in Canada for 2018 is to support outdoor play for kids – with proper engagement, outdoor play can help build resilience, self-confidence and well-being.

So if you combine those two goals it’s: consume less, play more.

So with that in mind, please feel free to be playful in the labyrinth.

Consume less, play more!

 

A Life Well-Lived

We would like to commemorate memories of a dear friend of the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth and a long-time committee member, Julia Heathcote on this page today.

Julia loved the labyrinth - and felt the call to volunteer and help bring the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth to life back in 2009.  We actually attended our first committee meeting together.

 Following are some photos from special times on the labyrinth.

Julia showing us the Peace flag she created from  messages created after a labyrinth walk for peace.

Festive gathering of the ladies of the labyrinth 2017. Back left to right: Stephanie, Mary, Monika, Connie and Christine.
Front: Debby and Julia

World Labyrinth Day 2015. Julia is on the far left.

Labyrinth Fest 2010 - officially opening the Carleton Place Community Labyrinth. Committee members from left to right: Ronette; Christine; Debby; Heather; Julia; Karen and Deb.

Unveiling the labyrinth sign, May 2013. Committee members from left to right: Karen; Phyl;
Julia, Christine and Debby.



 I begin
a sacred walk
into the labyrinth
circle within circle
flowing quietly toward
answers I may be seeking
Center
It is there I find inner peace
blessed truth just waiting
for me to carry back into
the world to share with
those who cross
my path.

Ellen Schettling Whitehead, Mancelona, Michigan, USA

If you have a photo of Julia you would like added to this page, please contact:

Christine Hume at christinehume@bell.net