Earth Day is Wednesday April 22! Oak Bay is home to many picturesque outdoor spaces, from parks and beaches to trails and tree-lined neighbourhoods.
The theme of this year’s Earth Day is Conscious Consumption, encouraging us to consume less, but better, to reduce our impact on the planet while improving our quality of life.Â
Below you’ll find some helpful tips on consumption, initiatives from the District of Oak Bay and events and activities around Greater Victoria.
Tips to Practice "Conscious Consumption"
Tips courtesy of Earth Day Canada
Consume less, consume better
- Reduce new purchases and favour second-hand items.
- Encourage repairing, sharing, and borrowing of items.
- Limit single-use products.
- Buy less, but better, according to your real needs.
Reduce energy use and travel
- Lower heating, turn off lights and unused devices.
- Prefer walking, cycling, public transit, or carpooling.
- Reduce air travel when alternatives exist.
- Adjust habits to lower energy consumption.
Limit digital footprint
- Extend the lifespan of your electronic devices.
- Reduce streaming and unnecessary storage.
- Regularly clean your emails and files.
Adopt sustainable lifestyle habits
- Reduce food waste and plan meals.
- Eat less meat and choose local foods.
Earth Day Events and Resources
District of Oak Bay
🗓️ Camas Day | May 3
Join Friends of Uplands Park at Cattle Point for their annual spring celebration with food, live music, native plant walks, prizes, kids activities and incredible informational displays from their community amazing partners working to protect our local ecosystems. More Details
Free Trees for your property and boulevard
From providing free cooling to increasing biodiversity and supporting good physical and mental health for residents, trees do so much to help our community. The District is encouraging the planting of more trees through the Free Tree Program.
Climate Action in the District
The District is working to advance climate action programs and projects that help reduce emissions across corporate operations and the community. Read the recent update to Council on the District’s Climate Action Program.
Active Transportation
Spring is a great time to consider getting out of the car and including more active transportation into your daily routine, whether it’s cycling, walking, or taking transit. Learn more about the District’s Active Transportation Program.
Oak Bay Coolkit
Looking for ways to get involved in Climate Action in the District? Spring is a great time to kick off a Climate Action Plan for your neighborhood!
You can download resources to get started, including a Climate Action Plan template here.
Greater Victoria and Beyond
🗓️ City Nature Challenge | April 24-27
During this four day event, over 900 cities across the world compete to photograph and document their local biodiversity using the free iNaturalist  website or app. iNaturalist creates a record of the nature that surrounds us and helps local government and scientists protect biodiversity.
Join the Greater Victoria 2026 City Nature Challenge project to be eligible to win an exciting prize.
Energy-efficient Upgrades
Thinking about installing a heat pump, upgrading insulation, replacing windows and doors, or adding a smart thermostat? Spring is the ideal time to plan and complete these upgrades before the summer heat arrives. Not sure where to start? The Home Energy Navigator can help you understand your energy retrofit options and identify available incentives.
Federal EV rebates available
The federal government has launched the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP) as part of Canada’s new Automotive Strategy. Canadians who purchase or lease an eligible electric vehicle on or after February 16, 2026 can apply for incentives starting March 31, 2026.
Waste Grants
Up to $10,000 is available through the Zero-Waste Event Grant, and up to $5,000 is available through the Community Grant. Applications are processed on a first come, first-served basis throughout the year.