April is Earth Month, but there are year-round opportunities to learn more about protecting the planet.
Residents of Foothills County and other communities in southern Alberta can learn more about climate change in a free course offered through the University of Calgary.
The course, titled "Preparing Albertans for Climate Change," was developed by Re.Climate at Carleton University, the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg and the Office of Sustainability at the University of Calgary.
No application, sign-up or registration is needed, and the course's video content and written materials are available online for all to access.
"There are 17 municipalities across Alberta that have energy or environmental plans in place with their own climate-mitigation and adaptation strategies," according to the course. Okotoks is one of the southern Alberta examples listed, along with Banff, Calgary, Canmore, Cochrane and Innisfail.
The course features seven modules on various topics, including environment-friendly transportation choices, sustainable food options and energy-efficient homes, such as those in the Drake Landing Solar Community.
The course additionally features material provided by former Town of Okotoks climate change and energy specialist Sheri Young.
“When you can go from a natural system to joining somebody on a patio, and when you know the people that run those small businesses in town, and when you can run into your council person or your mayor at the grocery store, that really fosters that sense of community and having power over your environment and being able to influence what’s happening there," reads a quote from Young.
Access the course on the University of Calgary's website.
