For many, Christmas is a time of reflection and a time to consider and appreciate what is most important to us. So why not also take a few moments to ponder your environmental views and values? 

Breathe in the fresh mountain air and enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature. Watch the sun rise and the snow fall. Remind yourself that Jasper is one of the most amazing places on earth and you live here.

Since we all desire to preserve, protect and nurture our families, it would seem natural to do the same for our environment, ensuring that it remains hospitable for future generations. Saving the earth this holiday season may seem like a heavy burden or a lofty fantasy and you may wonder why it should be your problem … luckily, whether we want to admit it or not, we all know right from wrong. You don’t have to be a hard-core environmentalist to believe in making the world a better place. Why wait for someone to force you to waste less and make better choices, when you can simply be proactive and do it now on your own accord? 

The holidays have spiritual and emotional significance for most people. It is a time when much emphasis is placed on family and friends but let’s face it — everywhere you turn we see the commercial promotion of this holiday. Obviously Christmas is not just about skating parties and trimming the tree anymore; it would appear that for some, it is all about what’s under the tree. In Canada during the holiday season last year we spent over $48 billion at retailers. What does it say about our Christmas values — never mind our environmental ethic?

We know that when we act wastefully or live carelessly, there are consequences. Large or small, everything we do has some effect on our environment — the key is to make the best choices we can to have the smallest impact possible. Why not strive for peace with earth as well as peace on earth?

With Christmas only a few days away there are still many things you can do to make your holiday extra special and eco-friendly. First rule: Don’t under any circumstances go out and buy more stuff. Last minute extras are usually excessive, whether we’re talking about gifts or food. Focus on making your holidays less materialistic and more meaningful. If you don’t already have a tree up, think about trying something totally different like decorating a house plant or getting a potted tree that can be planted out in your yard next spring. Initiate spending time with your family, gather up the kids and dig out your craft box — hand made decorations are unique and personal. Spend some energy putting up some new LED lights and save some electrical energy for doing it. Do your best to minimize your household waste by reducing, reusing, recycling and re-gifting (a totally acceptable thing to do); skip the store bought wrapping paper, go back to the craft box and get creative. Finally, be sure to give generously to those less fortunate, freeze your turkey left-overs and compost all your organic waste. I encourage you to spend quality time with your family and friends and get out and enjoy nature wherever you are this holiday season. Most importantly, remember that you can make a difference and 2007 is just the year to start. Thanks for reading, I wish you all a green Christmas! Happy holidays!

Join the conversation. Submit any environmental questions or comments to envirocafe@fitzhugh.ca

— Nicole Ward is the Environmental Stewardship Coordinator for the Municipality of Jasper and Parks Canada.