$4337 Raised on Earth Day 2019

EARTH DAY 2019

COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER

Thanks to everyone who came out to support our third annual fundraiser in celebration of Earth Day! On April 28th we donated 100% of our profits (+ additional donations from customers and our awesome event partners) to RAVEN Trust, an organization that raises legal defense funds for indigenous groups working for environmental change. Bandidas donated $3307 and our customers donated $410 in support of RAVEN’s campaign for the Heiltsuk Nation. The Heiltsuk suffered a massive oil spill in their territory near Bella Bella in 2016 and are now taking Kirby Corporation to court in a ground-breaking case wherein they stand to set a precedent for aboriginal title to the ocean and have a massive impact on fisheries, tankers and tanker traffic, and the health of communities up and down the pacific coast. Our guests came out with $280 in support of the Secwepemc Nation title claim, who are working to establish aboriginal sovereignty in their unceded territories near Thompson Rivers. Our guests also purchased seeds and seedling from Victory Gardens (operating in front of the restaurant), which amounted to $340 donated to The Classroom Gardener, an organization that supports students and teachers in school gardening.

SIDEWALK FESTIVAL

Thanks to Susan Smitten, the Executive Director of RAVEN (you may have caught her at the info booth while you were waiting for a brunch table). It’s always so valuable to have RAVEN around--there’s so much to learn from them! Thanks also to Victory Gardens for selling plants and seeds in support of The Classroom Gardener during our sidewalk festival, and to The Butt Touchers, who supported the event by engaging customers on the toxicity of cigarette litter and picking up old butts outside the restaurant while wearing outrageous outfits. Of course, the festive spirit would be nowhere without the rad musicians who serenaded us on the sidewalk. Thanks to Caitlin Read, Aaron Loewen, Sinead Sanders and Roan Shankaruk for sharing your talent.

STUDENT ART SHOW

Because we think it’s vital to include youth in our efforts to preserve the environment, every year our Earth Day fundraiser includes an art show by local elementary students. This year’s show was the biggest yet, and as the art show grows we continue to be struck by how earnest and impassioned children are when they consider the earth that we are leaving to them and the great task that is before them. Come by the restaurant anytime until May 27th to view the student’s work. It’s inspiring, to say the least.