Whistler hosts bike-powered concert to celebrate Earth Hour

 Whistler hosts bike-powered concert to celebrate Earth Hour

Whistler, B.C. - Whistler will host its first-ever bike-powered concert at Whistler Olympic Plaza as part of Earth Hour - the international lights-out initiative which places a spotlight on the issue of climate change. 

From 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. PST on Saturday, March 26 visitors are invited to put themselves in the dark, along with Whistler locals, as the resort ‘powers down' in celebration of Earth Hour.

People are encouraged to generate bicycle-powered energy prior to and during the free, fun-for-all-ages concert, which features reggae artists Aaron Nazrul & the Broom Brooms from 8:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. at Whistler Olympic Plaza.

Candlelight dinners, in honour of Earth Hour, can be enjoyed at a number of participating restaurants including: Alta Bistro, Aubergine Grille, BBQ Bob's, Black's Pub and Restaurant, Boston Pizza, Caramba, Celadon, Earls, La Bocca, La Rua, Sushi Village, Tandoori Grill and the Fairmont Chateau Whistler's Chalet, Mallard Lounge, Wildflower and Wine Room.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that Whistler has participated in Earth Hour. Official supporters include Tourism Whistler, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, LUNA, Sharp's Audio-Visual, Watermark Communications, Whistler Blackcomb, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, the Westin Resort & Spa Whistler, the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, the Whistler Restaurant Association, the Whistler Facility Managers' Association and Evolution.

In addition to the events outlined above, Whistler will honour Earth Hour by doing the following:

• Turning off the lights at the Whistler Conference Centre
• Turning off festive lighting in the Village
• Turning off the lights at municipal buildings
• Turning off all village heat tracing
• Turning off the lighting at the Lost Lake cross-country ski trails

The local efforts in support of Earth Hour reflect Whistler's long-term commitment to sustainability. To read more about some of the resort's sustainability initiatives, visit http://bit.ly/WhistlerGreen

Last year, more than 80 countries participated in Earth Hour. In Canada, more than 10 million people participated. The nearby community of Pemberton recorded the area's highest energy savings within the hour, with a 3.4 per cent drop, while Whistler reduced its energy consumption by 3.2 per cent and Squamish reduced its consumption by 2.5 per cent. 

To find out more about Earth Hour, visit http://www.whistler.com/earth_hour/

-30-
Media can visit www.whistler.com/media for Whistler facts, media releases, story starters, local personality profiles and access to images and B-roll.

Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America for the past 12 years in a row, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 9,000 permanent residents.

Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.WHISTLER and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.