Roncy Walks for Earth Hour
A symbolic gesture
Every Earth Hour, the kilometre and half of Roncesvalles Avenue is travelled upon, by environment conscious supporters. This year the symbolic gesture campaigning crowd, gathered at the (future site of) the Dundas Roncesvalles Peace Garden where Earth Hour 2015 Walk Marshals; Andrea DOnofrio and Sarah Malleau had arranged for acoustic performer, Markur to entertain attendees. 
Keith Denning from the RVBIA handed out mason jar lanterns, for those who didn’t arrive with any. I stayed busy working with media and welcoming friends.
If I were to continue on accolades, the whole of RoncyWorks and all that it does, wouldn’t exist without key facilitator Veronica Feihl, who thoughtfully organized the first cleanup of the plant beds and tree beds, the morning of the annual Earth Hour Walk.
Symbolic Walk starts Live on CP24
Coinciding with a live TV hit, the revellers with lit candles and lanterns, began the Walk along Roncesvalles’s commercial side, pausing briefly to salute patrons in the many dimly lit cafes, bistros and bars. Many businesses participate in the power-down hour.
Walkers acknowledge “power-down” patrons of restaurants & bars along the way
Karyn & NDP MP Peggy Nash
The more people that attend the Roncesvalles Annual Earth Hour candlelight walk, the more evident it is to educators, commercial planners and governing parties that our neighbourhood cares and wants strategies that will safeguard the world from issues like climate change.
I’ve been Roncy’s Earth Hour Co-ordinator since 2010, so how pleased was I to chat with NDP MP Peggy Nash as we strolled the length of the celebratory walk. Locally running Liberal Candidate Arif Virani also attended, but I didn’t get a chance to say hello.
RoncyWorks Members; Veronica, Sarah, Andrea, Karyn
As soon as we arrived at Grafton Park, we posed for our annual group picture as the Walk Marshals queried the crowd on Earth Hour Trivia. Correct answers were rewarded with amazing giveaways that the RoncyWorks Earth Hour Marshals had canvassed for.
Wonderful packages were supplied by these local businesses:
- SOHO Art & Custom Framing
- The Herbal Clinic & Dispensary
- Revue Cinema
- Michael Johnston Music Studio
- Chocolateria
- The Cookery
- Fresh Collective
Thanks to all the media outlets that covered the event.
EXCERPT from Inside Toronto Parkdale Villager interview by: Hilary Caton
For Koski, having people show up this Saturday, March 28 is a testament to successful non-violent community communication.
“There is no fist pumping or screaming demands to recognize and do something about climate change,” she said.
There are just a whole bunch of people, that get together every year to walk down a kilometre and half of Toronto real estate, holding lit candles symbolically representing that we aren’t using conventional man-made power for just one little hour. And we’re doing so because maybe one day, there just won’t be any.”
RoncyWorks 