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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
Several years ago, Diane Seals helped found EarthFest - an informal group of environmentalists in Fort Smith.

Diane Seals of Fort Smith helped found EarthFest, an environmentalist group. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Seals said Fort Smith EarthFest is a collection of like-minded people who joined forces because they were passionate about the environment and wanted to do something for the community.

The group, which now consists of a half-dozen people, focuses on organizing activities during Earth Week and specifically Earth Day – April 22 this year.

"It's celebrating the Earth," said Seals. "We didn't want to have the negative doom-and-gloom kind of stuff. So it's a celebration."

She said that, in the past, she had always personally tried to do something to mark Earth Day.

"So it worked out nicely that there was a group of people who were all interested in doing something for the community at that time," she said. "There were a few individuals that were active on their own with the environment and then there were a few of us stay-at-home moms at the time that were also active in the outdoors and wanted healthy families and healthy communities. So we all got together and formed something, which was really nice."

Seals was an environmental activist before she moved to Fort Smith in 1996.

"Honestly, it's been since high school," she recalled. "I didn't have a family that was outdoorsy at all and it wasn't until high school that I did my first-ever hiking trip, and something clicked for me and I really liked it."

By Grade 11, she was helping to organize an environmental conference for all high schools in her hometown of London, Ont.

For this year's Earth Week, the Fort Smith group organized a number of projects, including a hike in Wood Buffalo National Park on Earth Day, and promoted a bike or walk to work initiative from April 23-27.

Another initiative involves people getting together to discuss reading material on leading a more sustainable life.

Seals said it is to simplify people's lives in a world that's very materialistic.

In the past, EarthFest also organized a community debate about a now-abandoned proposal to build a hydroelectric dam on the Slave River, organized tours of the Town of Fort Smith's water treatment plant, held family hikes, and sponsored sessions on gardening and growing food in the community.

Seals said the projects fit nicely with EarthFest's goal to promote connecting with natural areas.

"All the people who have kind of started this, we all have that connection and that passion for wild areas," she said.

While the group is now focused on Earth Day, there has been some talk about possibly expanding for other annual events, such as Oceans Day.

"We haven't done that yet, but it's something that we've definitely talked about, so it's just a matter of getting people together to do it," Seals said.

The mother of four, who works as the administration and events co-ordinator at Northern Life Museum, noted it's important to have a group like EarthFest in Fort Smith.

"I think it helps everyone to kind of just remember the importance of a pristine wilderness area and that we are so fortunate to be surrounded by that," she said, adding the group helps Fort Smith maintain a healthy environment for families and the community as a whole.

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