Unless you’ve been living in the dark (in which case, this article doesn’t apply to you), chances are you’ve at least heard some mention of Earth Hour. It’s the pseudo-activist event taking place on Saturday, March 29 from 8PM to 9PM. Despite all the talk, you still might be unfamiliar with the events origins, intentions, and the ways that you can participate and lend your hand to the environment. Fear not – our guide to Earth Hour will demystify rumours and allow you to plan a great Saturday night centred on the planet.

How It Started

The first Earth Hour took place a year ago and was held in the ever-progressive state capital of Sydney, Australia. Environmental groups and local Sydney media decided that something drastically theatrical had to be done in order to drive home the importance of curbing global warming. Nearly 2.2 million residents took part as the city dramatically reduced its light usage for the hour. The Sydney Harbour Bridge and other landmarks around the city dimmed their lights, as darkness voluntarily shrouded the coastal city. The electrical consumption in Sydney was decreased by approximately 5% during that hour. The result was equivalent to removing 48,616 cars from the road for a year!

The Evolution of the Hour

This year, the World Wildlife Fund has worked with environmental lobby groups and thousands of businesses to turn Earth Hour into a global event. So far, about 30 official partner cities – from Dubai and Dublin to Miami and Montreal – have jumped on board and countless corporations, families and individuals worldwide have pledged to switch off come this Saturday.

Canadian Support Overtaking that of Aussies and Americans

Toronto has the distinction of being the leading Canadian city participating in Earth Hour. The Toronto Star and Virgin Mobile have teamed up with the City of Toronto to create an event that will shine in the hearts of many, although only figuratively. Landmarks around the city will also be flicking off. Yonge-Dundas Square, City Hall, Honest Ed’s, OCAD, the CN Tower and other skyscrapers and landmarks will temporarily turn off in an effort to save energy. (Perhaps Yonge-Dundas Square will do us all a favor and never turn its lights back on again…ahem).

Despite Toronto's flagship role in Earth Hour, other Canadian cities need not grow green with envy. Instead, let's all celebrate the fact that Canada is leading the Earth Hour effort with an unprecedented amount of supporters. Even Australia, the country which pioneered the event, and the US (which has ten times the population of our country) are behind us Canucks. Go Canada!