By Kellah Lavoie

Keeping nature in the Lakeland

Jul 17, 2011 | 11:48 AM

CHRISTOPHER LAKE – The R.M. of Lakeland was encouraging environmental awareness on Saturday.

It was the Nurture Nature in the Lakeland day. The event, put on by Lakeland’s Environment Advisory Committee, had a variety of speakers and displays showing people how to help protect the environment and keep the area beautiful and unscathed.

Richard Huziak, member if the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and chairman of the Saskatchewan Light Pollution Abatement Committee, was one of the five presenters. He was there to speak about light pollution, and what measures people can take to reduce the amount of light they use.

“It’s growing by leaps and bounds,” he said, explaining the population is growing by three percent while the amount of light being used is growing by seven per cent. Light consumes 19 per cent of all energy produced.

“It is a big deal because people are coming from the city and they are bringing city ideas to the lakes and one of the ideas is to light up your cottage like you were lighting it up in the city,” he said.

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

6h ago

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

12h ago

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

Dec 13, 2024

“Since there are no regulations about how to light things, people can put up any kind of lights they want, and then we end up with a big lighting problem, wasting energy and causing a nuisance and light trespasses onto neighbouring properties.

“For some reason people just think that things need to get brighter and brighter all the time.”

A solution can be as simple as just turning the light off when you leave the room, Huziak said.

“You are at the lake in the cottage, so enjoy nature around you. As soon as you turn the lights on, you are going to have animals go away (and) the whole nature of the area is being disrupted by unnatural light in the environment.”

He said shutting off the light will increase enjoyment of watching animals, the lake and the stars.

The day was only one initiative that the Environmental Advisory Committee is trying to bring in, said Wayne Hyde, committee member.

“People can learn how to better take care of and appreciate the Lakeland area,” he said.

“We wanted to put on a day where we could present the beauty of the Lakeland area and how nice it is right now.”

The group did get a better response this year than last year. He said it is a way to educate the community while raising public awareness and encouraging participation.

klavoie@panow.com