Vancouver, May 31, 2010 - They
came by the thousands to see how to adopt a more sustainable
lifestyle - and they had fun in the process.
This year's EPIC: The Vancouver Sun Sustainable
Living Expo drew record crowds.
EPIC, a solutions-based,
family-oriented green consumer event sponsored by the Vancouver Sun
and managed by the GLOBE Foundation, is designed to educate and
entertain today's eco-conscious consumers about how to green their
lifestyles.
The three-day celebration of sustainable living
took place this past weekend at the Vancouver Trade and Convention
Centre. It featured over 300 companies focused on social enterprise
and environmental sustainability.
Exhibitors displayed the latest in
eco-fashions, food and beverages - from organic beers and wines to
high energy fruit drinks, as well as home and garden, leisure and
transportation choices for those seeking to leave a softer
footprint on the planet.
The highlight of the EPIC Auto Show was the car
everyone is talking about - the Tesla Roadster, the only
high-performance highway-capable electric vehicle in serial
production in North America and Europe.
Some of Vancouver's top Green Table chefs were on
hand preparing world-class sustainable cuisine on the EPICurean
Cooking Stage presented by the Green Table Network and using Ocean
Wise products.
Chefs on stage included Chris Whittaker from
Listel/O'Douls preparing his Think Pink Salmon dish; Gerry Gough
from The Boathouse, with his celebrated Cilantro-crusted BC Tuna;
and Dino Gazzola from Grouse Mountain who prepared his
mouth-watering Hecate Straight Halibut.
Another highlight of the event were presentations
on the Main Stage by eco-experts in everything from green eating
and dietary tips, to environmental conservation in the wine
industry, to opportunities in emerging low-carbon careers , to
energy efficiency ideas for the home.
Main Stage Program Manager, Paul
Shorthouse of the GLOBE Foundation said "the presentations were
very well attended and featured speakers including Dianne
Dillon-Ridgley, a Director at Interface Inc., James Gray-Donald
Associate VP and Sustainability Leader at Sears Canada, and the
Deputy City Manager from the City of Vancouver, Sadhu Johnston, who
talked about how the City is attempting to become the greenest city
in the world by 2020.
Comedian Graham Clark kept audiences in stitches
as he added a "green" twist to his stand-up routine.
Eco-fashion shows that took place throughout the
weekend featured the latest in sustainable clothing, earth-friendly
cosmetics and a stunning collection of wedding gowns designed for
eco-conscious brides to be.
The most fun was clearly had by the hundreds of
tiny tots that played, jumped, danced and romped in an
adventure-filled Toyland with a 2-story tree house. A constant
stream of bubbles and an endless array of eco-conscious activities
for kids kept both parents and children hopping.
Equally popular, but more relaxing was
the EPIC Wellness Spa, where visitors could enjoy a FREE spa
treatment or massage in a tranquil setting to get rejuvenated for
the rest of the excitement at EPIC.
For the outdoor enthusiast and handymen, there
were displays of garden furniture, organic gardening supplies,
eco-farming tips, building supplies made from recycled materials,
and an impressive living wall demonstrating the space-saving
potential of vertical gardening.
"Going green is easy", said EPIC sales manager
Chris Livingstone, "It's about doing what you can, when you can.
All you need is a little education and inspiration and EPIC has
lots of both."
"With a little thought, you can shop smarter" he
added.
photography - www.jonbenjamin.ca