ARTICLE

The next step is Greenstep!

June 15th is shaping up to be quite a day for Walkerton! The Greenstep 2002 Environmental Fair is just around the corner. The day starts off at Heritage Garden with an Ecumenical Service, followed by the fair at Walkerton District Secondary School. To date sixty vendors and exhibitors are participating in this event. Lots to see and lots more to do!

A truly unique, educational and fun children's program will include "Creepy Critters" with Nancy Griffin, Music for nature nuts with "Dicky Bird", Junkyard Johnny's "Make music with garbage" and Leather crafting with Gino Ferri. The Littlefeet children's program is fully supervised allowing parents to explore the fair for up to two hours. This free, fully supervised event us designed to provide children aged 2-13 years with opportunities to learn about nature and the environment in a fun way.

Ruth Grier, former Environmental Critic will be one of the two keynote speakers, Guy Dauncy, author of 101 Solutions to Climate Change, will be the other.

The unveiling of the alternative car show promises to capture the attention of the car enthusiast in all of us. Show cased are vehicles such as solar, hybrid electric and electric assist.

The first of three Rural Water Clinics will be held inside the main auditorium. Last week I published an article devoted to the Rural Water Protection Program and the response from the readership has been encouraging. I am so pleased to see that the rural community of Brockton takes the safety of their drinking water seriously. There is a wealth of safe drinking water knowledge available for the asking. Come on out to Greenstep and sign up for your rural water visit.

Greenstep 2002 - Remembering our past…Reclaiming our Future. Come be a part of it.

Once the day at the fair is over, the fun is just beginning. The opening event for Stonyground this year will feature the Walkerton Water Stories Project. This inspiring oral history promises to leave you renewed, and rejoicing in your community's rich water heritage. Over 100 people from our community have directly contributed to this project. Stories have been gathered in preparation for sharing by Stratford Storyteller Mary Eileen McClear and archiving by sculptor and water archivist, Basia Irland. Artists young and old have come together to create beautiful prints under the tutelage of master illustrator and engraver, Wesley Bates. Take in the beauty of the Stonygrounds heritage gardens and stroll through the art gallery and exhibits. Enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvers before a mouth watering catered dinner and then relax and experience the Water Stories Project. Top it all off with a fabulous concert featuring renowned folk singer James Gordon, Sandy Horne and Marion Linton…all of life's pleasures rolled into one lovely summer evening.

This is the kind of community building partnership that Walkerton can be proud of. People from all walks of life, coming together to support and enhance their community. Walkerton showing their pride, both in the community and the rich water heritage that has formed it. I say kudos' and congratulations to all that have participated, all that continue to participate and all about to participate. Once the Stories Project has unveiled itself in Walkerton, the beautiful vessel created by Basia Irland will carry our stories to the rest of the province and beyond! This will be Walkerton's gift to everyone and what a marvelous gift is will be.

I hope to see all of you at the Greenstep Environmental Fair and Stonyground Benefit Evening on June 15th.

Opportunities to support your community and have a terrific time await!

Vendor spots for the fair are still available in limited quantities. To have your business participate call Nancy at the Concerned Walkerton Citizens Greenstep Committee office at 881-3277.

For Tickets to the Stonyground Benefit Evening, Dinner and Concert, call Lynda at the Walkerton Healthy Community Initiative at 881-1795.