Editor’s Note: The English copy will follow below. La copie anglaise suivra ci-dessous.
(Publié à l’origine dans Le Courrier de la Nouvelle-Écosse le 21 avril 2023)
Imaginez-vous… Nous sommes à la mi-avril et Apollo 13 est lancé dans le but du retour sur la lune. La mission n’est pas une réussite et les astronautes doivent revenir sur Terre. Personne ne célèbre cette mission ratée, mais 5 jours plus tard, 20 millions de personnes se réunissent autour de la Terre pour célébrer la Terre !
En effet, le 22 avril 1970 a été la première fois que la Journée de la Terre a été célébrée. Selon le National Geographic (2022), c’est un diplômé de l’Université Harvard, Denis Hayes et le Sénateur du Wisconsin, Sénateur Gaylord Nelson, qui ont organisé la première Journée de la Terre.
Pourquoi la date du 22 avril ? Effectivement, il s’agissait d’une date après l’année universitaire (après les examens), mais avant des fêtes majeures comme le congé de printemps aux États-Unis (Spring Break) et Pâques, par exemple. De plus, il s’agit d’une date au printemps qui faisait en sorte que la météo serait fort probablement idéale pour des activités en plein air. Depuis ce temps, près de 190 pays appuient et célèbrent la Journée de la Terre toutes les années.
Lors de la première édition de la Journée de la Terre aux États-Unis, il y a eu 20 millions de participants, en grande partie des étudiants universitaires. 20 ans plus tard, les célébrations de la Journée de la Terre organisées par Hayes ont réuni plus de 200 millions de participants à travers plus de 140 pays – toute une célébration !
Aujourd’hui, plusieurs organismes participent aux célébrations de la Journée de la Terre. Il y a un organisme international, EARTHDAY.ORG, qui en est un exemple. Cet organisme regroupe plus de 190 pays participants. Au niveau national, il existe aussi l’organisme Earth Day Canada, ou Jour de la Terre Canada. Ainsi, pour ces organismes, les efforts et célébrations en lien avec la Journée de la Terre ont lieu le 22 avril annuellement, mais aussi à tous les jours de l’année.
Mais, pourquoi célébrer une Journée de la Terre ? À la base, l’objectif de cette journée était d’éduquer et sensibiliser les gens sur les enjeux et réalités qui touchent notre planète et la protection de l’environnement. Avec le temps, les thèmes de cette journée portent sur des sujets variés, mais tous reliés à la Terre. On aborde notamment les défis qui touchent notre environnement, le changement climatique et les énergies renouvelables.
Pour la plupart des organismes qui organisent des célébrations de la Journée de la Terre, un accent est mis sur l’éducation et un désir de mieux comprendre les défis qui existent en lien avec le changement climatique et l’environnement. Pour plusieurs organismes, peu importe qui nous sommes, tous les individus de la Terre ont droit à une planète plus juste, équitable et durable. Cela nous ramène à l’importance du développement durable.
En Nouvelle-Écosse, plusieurs entreprises choisissent d’utiliser cette Journée pour faire des gestes ou actions concrètes en faveur de l’environnement. Que ce soit faire une marche en plein air, ramasser des déchets sur nos plages ou dans nos rues, avoir des systèmes de tri (déchets vs recyclage) et plus encore. Pour une entreprise qui s’intéresse au développement durable et aux causes environnementales, c’est une excellente occasion de participer activement et sincèrement à l’un des piliers de base du développement durable : l’environnement. Encourager ses employés à participer à la Journée de la Terre est aussi une excellente façon de s’engager activement dans cette cause.
Le 22 avril arrive et se termine aussi rapidement, mais rappelons-nous que nous pouvons célébrer la Journée de la Terre le 22 avril et tous les jours de l’année également ! Si vous êtes un.e entrepreneur.e ou OBNL francophone ou acadien.ne de la Nouvelle-Écosse ou bien si vous êtes une entreprise (francophone ou pas) qui sert les communautés acadiennes/francophones et que vous êtes intéressé à avoir plus d’informations ou parler du développement durable pour votre organisation, n’hésitez pas à me rejoindre, conseillère en développement durable avec le Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ), à rcooper@cdene.ns.ca ou au (902) 769-0960. Il nous fera plaisir de vous servir dans la langue officielle (Français ou Anglais) de votre choix.
Why celebrate Earth Day?
(Originally published in Le Courrier de la Nouvelle-Écosse on April 21st 2023)
Imagine this… It’s mid-April and Apollo 13 is being launched with the goal of returning to the Moon. The mission is unsuccessful and the astronauts must return to Earth. No one is celebrating this failed mission, but 5 days later, 20 million people around the world gather to celebrate Earth!
Indeed, on April 22nd, 1970 Earth Day was celebrated for the very first time. According to National Geographic (2022), Harvard University graduate Denis Hayes and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson organized the first Earth Day.
At the first edition of Earth Day in the United States, there were 20 million participants, mostly university students. 20 years later, Hayes’ Earth Day celebrations have brought together more than 200 million participants across more than 140 countries – that’s quite a celebration!
Today, several organizations worldwide are participating in Earth Day celebrations. There is an international body, EARTHDAY.ORG, which is an example of this. This organization brings together more than 190 participating countries. At the national level, there is also Earth Day Canada, or Jour de la Terre Canada. For these organizations, Earth Day efforts and celebrations take place on April 22 annually, but also every day of the year.
But why celebrate Earth Day? To put it simply, the objective of this day was to educate and raise awareness about the issues and realities affecting our planet and the protection of the environment. Over time, the themes of this day have covered various topics, but all are related to the Earth. These include challenges to our environment, climate change and renewable energy, to name a few.
For most organizations celebrating Earth Day, there is a focus on education and a desire to better understand the challenges that exist in relation to climate change and the environment. For others, no matter who we are, all people on Earth have the right to a more just, equitable and sustainable planet. This brings us back to the importance of sustainable development.
In Nova Scotia, many businesses choose to use this day to make concrete gestures or actions in favor of the environment. Whether it’s taking a walk outdoors, picking up garbage on our beaches or streets, having waste sorting systems and more. For a business interested in sustainable development and environmental causes, this is an excellent opportunity to actively and sincerely participate in at least one of the basic pillars of sustainable development: the environment. Encouraging employees to participate in Earth Day is also a great way to get actively involved in this cause.
April 22nd will come and go just as quickly, but let’s remember that we can celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd as well as every day of the year! If you are a Francophone or Acadian entrepreneur or non-profit in Nova Scotia or if you are a business operating and serving in a Francophone or Acadian community, and you are interested in knowing more or talking about sustainable development for your business or organization, do not hesitate to contact me, Réanne Cooper – Sustainable Development Advisor with the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ), at rcooper@cdene.ns.ca or at (902)769-0960. We will be very happy to assist you in either official language (French or English) of your choice.
Elevate is Cape Breton – Unama’ki’s business-focused publication brought to you by the Cape Breton Partnership. To evolve with our business audience, the publication has now moved from a print publication to fully online. Starting in 2022, our readers can expect to see Elevate articles appearing on both our website and on Saltwire.com.
On April 18, 2023, representatives of the Cape Breton Partnership and Build Nova Scotia attended a Community Information Update event in Louisbourg to hear feedback and discussion on the latest updates on the Louisbourg Visitor Experience Enhancement Strategy. The below document was circulated as well to share updates on the project’s current status. Click either page below to download the full document.
For more information, contact Denis Thibeault, CBRM Economic Development Officer, at denis@capebretonpartnership.com, or visit buildns.ca/projects/louisbourg/ for more updates.
(Cape Breton Island, NS) – Nominations are now open for the 2023 Safety First in Cape Breton Awards, celebrating individuals and businesses who are committed to the advancement of workplace health and safety across Unama’ki – Cape Breton.
The awards are an initiative of the Safety First in Cape Breton Network, which is administered by the Cape Breton Partnership in collaboration with WCB Nova Scotia and the Department of Labour, Skills & Immigration (LSI) and generously manufactured and sponsored by Protocase. The award categories include recognitions for Young Advocate, Engagement Ally, Outstanding Health & Safety Committee, Small Business Trailblazer, Safety Culture Champion, and Innovation Expert.
The awards will be presented on May 24, 2023, at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre as part of the 2023 Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium. The Symposium will feature keynote addresses, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and an industry trade show. Details regarding registration and speakers will be shared in the weeks to come.
“The Cape Breton Partnership is proud to continue working alongside our partners to recognize individuals who go above and beyond to build a strong safety culture in the work they do and across their organizations and businesses,” said Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “As the Island’s private sector-led economic development organization, we understand the critical importance of workplace health and safety, and commend Cape Breton-based businesses and individuals who make it their number one priority each and every day.”
Past Safety First in Cape Breton Awards recipients include Port Hawkesbury Paper LP, NSCC Strait Area Campus, Seaside Wireless Communications, Victoria Fisheries Co-op, Lynk Electric, Copol International, and many other dedicated businesses and individuals working hard to make Unama’ki – Cape Breton the safest place to do business.
To nominate an individual or organization, please visit http://www.safetyfirstcapebreton.com/about-safetyfirstawards.
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Media Contact
Carly Appleton,
Communications Coordinator
Cape Breton Partnership
carly@capebretonpartnership.com
(902) 562-0122
About the Cape Breton Partnership:
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki’ – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization that supports companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our island as a great place to live and invest; growing a culture that values and celebrates creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and connecting entrepreneurs and companies to the resources they need to succeed. For more information, visit https://capebretonpartnership.com.
Episode Three of Welcome to Cape Breton takes us into the minds and hearts of new Cape Bretoners who are thriving in the business world. You’ll meet the Island’s Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year winners for 2022 for both the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Strait Area Chamber of Commerce. Kalie Wang’s Urban Grow Farms business sells microgreens all around Cape Breton – Unama’ki. And partners in life and business, Nani Venus and Aby Maqui are four years into rocking Nani’s Esthetics in Port Hawkesbury.
Welcome to Cape Breton is an evocative podcast of change, arrival, discovery and home. It examines the timeless notion – what is home? How do we define the oftentimes moving target known as home?
Your host Norma Jean MacPhee Zinck guides you on these adventures and discoveries. With 20 years as a journalist, her passion for Cape Breton – Unama’ki fuels this captivating podcast series.
Listen & Subscribe Today:
Cape Breton Island, NS – Are you looking for a new employment opportunity? Or, are you an employer with open job postings available? Local job-seekers and employers are encouraged to attend the upcoming Cape Breton – Unama’ki Job Fair Series scheduled for April 4 – 14, 2023.
Presented free of charge by the Cape Breton Partnership, Cape Breton Job Board, and the Province of Nova Scotia, the Job Fair Series will include four Job Fairs, held 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Port of Sydney (April 4); Inverness Fire Hall (April 5); Louisdale Lions Club Hall (April 13); and Inverary Resort (April 14). Over 40 employers and service providers have signed up so far for the events, with several attending more than one session, and both seasonal and year-round employment opportunities available. Over 200 job-seekers have also registered so far across the four Job Fairs.
“Our local employers are the backbone of the economy here in Cape Breton – Unama’ki, and they’re limited by the staffing challenges facing the entire region,” says Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “Finding that next shining star employee or that rewarding career change can be as easy as attending one of the upcoming job fairs and striking up a conversation. We’re proud to host this event to facilitate those conversations and new connections.”
Local employers attending the series will also be able to connect with the Cape Breton Partnership’s Labour, Immigration, and Human Resources Services, with staff dedicated to each topic available during and after the job fairs to explore employers’ options to address their labour needs.
“We’ve been speaking with a number of employers who are struggling to fill their labour needs and are forced to make hard choices as a result,” says Jessica MacDonald, Human Resources Advisor for the Cape Breton Partnership. “Having the chance to meet job-seekers from across the Island and speak face-to-face will give employers a competitive advantage in attracting the talent they need to grow their business.”
Those interested in attending as a job-seeker, or as a participating employer, can find out more about the event and register at https://capebretonpartnership.com/cape-breton-unamaki-job-series/. Pre-registration is encouraged.
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Media Contact:
Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
Cape Breton Partnership
Jeremy@cbpartnership(902) 631-5442
About the Cape Breton Partnership:
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization that supports companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our island as a great place to live, work, and invest; growing a culture that values and celebrates creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and connecting entrepreneurs and companies to the resources they need to succeed. For more information, visit https://capebretonpartnership.com.
