Earth Day comes to Canada

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Earth Day comes to Canada

As populations grow and cities expand, the human footprint on Earth grows ever larger. The natural world inevitably pays the price: forests shrink, lakes die and species disappear. In 1970, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson named April 22 as a day for grassroots demonstrations for environmental protection. His idea has flourished and continues to gain momentum as countries and consumers strive to become more "green." To mark Earth Day, the CBC Digital Archives reflects on the growing awareness of our fragile world and the people who helped shape our environmental consciousness.

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April 22, 1970: Today marks the first Earth Day, a time for education and activism about the environment. Earth Day has quickly become a cause célèbre in the U.S., and Canadian activists hope to generate the same enthusiasm at home. In this 1970 clip, Bruno Gerussi talks with Wayland Drew, an organizer of Earth Day activities in Toronto. Drew is optimistic that Earth Day will catch on with Canadians and urges everyone to participate in this new day of global environmental awareness.

• Interviewer Bruno Gerussi was also a veteran of Canadian television, lending his talents to such shows as The Beachcombers, Side Effects and The Raccoons.

• April 22 is also the birthday of actor Eddie Albert, but it's not a coincidence. Albert was a dedicated environmental activist who promoted a "green" agenda in schools, conventions and even The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Because of his involvement in launching the first Earth Day, organizers honored him by having it on his birthday.

Medium: Radio
Program: Gerussi!
Broadcast Date: April 22, 1970
Guest(s): Wayland Drew
Host: Bruno Gerussi
Duration: 5:09
Photo: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ARC #543927

Last updated: April 24, 2013

Page consulted on April 24, 2013