Who: High school and college students from across the region, along with Wilderness Committee campaigners, supporters and their children. All are welcome.

What: Making costumes, banners, placards, buttons, and other materials in preperation for next weeks youth-led Earth Day Parade (Friday April 22 on Commercial Drive).

Participants will also watch "Earth Days" a documentary about the history of the first Earth Day in 1970.

Computer stations will be set up to facilitate a social networking "Face-mob" helping young people spread the word far and wide about the Earth Day Parade over Facebook and Twitter.

Where: The Wilderness Committee office in Gastown, at 341 Water st. on the top floor.

When: Saturday, April 16, 1pm - 4pm

Why: "Our goal is to hold Vancouver's first Earth Day Celebration organized by youth, for all youth and the families of Metro Vancouver," said Cassandra Ly, a grade 12 student from the organizing group Youth For Climate Justice Now (Y4CJN). "We hope to recapture the original spirit of Earth Day as a day for environmental action and as a celebration of the Earth as it should be," said Ly.

"These students are showing great leadership on issues that many politicians are not paying enough attention to," said Ben West, Healthy Communities Campaigner for the Wilderness Committee. "The fact that a federal election is happening a week after Earth Day provides a great opportunity for this event to increase youth participation in democracy," said West.

"This is going to be an Earth Day to remember in Vancouver," said West. "These young people are so inspiring, they give me hope that a better world truly is possible."

For More Information Contact

Ben West, Wilderness Committee - 604 710 5340