Earth Hour by Candlelight

March 23, 2010, Grouse Mountain, North Vancouver, B.C. – Hundreds of millions of people around the world will turn off their lights for one hour, at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27th 2010, in a symbolic action for climate change. The global initiative will be observed on Grouse Mountain by candlelight in two of Vancouver’s most romantic venues, The Observatory fine dining restaurant and Altitudes Bistro. Earth Hour will also have special meaning for visitors to the resort which launched Vancouver’s first commercially viable wind turbine, The Eye of the Wind, to international acclaim last month. The Eye of the Wind is now open for the public to learn about this limitless form of alternative energy.

In turning off the lights in The Observatory and Altitudes Bistro to mark Earth Hour, Grouse Mountain will also provide patrons with a romantic candlelit setting. Both restaurants offer guests an unparalleled opportunity to sample distinctly British Columbian cuisine while overlooking the grandeur of the Lower Mainland, some 3,700 feet below. From this unique mountaintop vantage point it will be easy to see how well our city observes the “lights out” mandate of Earth Hour.

Grouse Mountain works extensively to improve energy efficiency in all manner of endeavours, guided by a principle of balance in environmental and ecological terms. The World Wildlife Fund, organizers of Earth Hour, reported more than 4,000 cities in 87 countries on seven continents participated in 2009. The resort is also proud to join other iconic landmarks turning their lights off from around the world including: the Golden Gate Bridge, Seattle’s Space Needle, the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens, St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament in London, Paris’ Elysee Palace and Eiffel Tower, Beijing’s Birds Nest and Water Cube, Symphony of Lights in Hong Kong and Sydney’s Opera House.

Lights in the controlled ski area beyond the Peak Chalet will remain turned on for the safety of visitors outdoors. Midnight is our standard “lights off” time due to the hours of Grouse Mountain’s operation and the nature of the ski area. Grouse Mountain is also an access point for a number of trails that are frequented by hikers of all ages and abilities. Aside from being an excellent navigation tool for nighttime hikers, the lights of The Cut assist alpine patrollers with their final sweep of the neighbouring trails, ensuring that hikers, snowshoers, skiers, and snowboarders are clearing the mountain in time to make the last downhill tram.

Earth Hour participants send a powerful, visual message demanding action on climate change. Inspired by this movement, we believe our sustained efforts for the other 8,759 hours of the year will help leave a lasting legacy for future generations. Join us for Earth Hour to share in this philosophy on environmental stewardship.

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