Canadians joined millions around the world marking Earth Hour

TORONTO – Canadians joined millions of people around the world in marking Earth Hour last night.

The World Wildlife Fund, the driving force behind Earth Hour, said 13-million Canadians turned off their lights for an hour last year as they joined the effort to draw attention to climate change.

It`s not yet known whether that figure was topped this year.

But Nova Scotia Power reported a drop of five megawatts during Earth Hour — and Ontario reported a 448 megawatt drop — enough energy to power some 90-thousand homes.

Messages were posted on the websites of utilities in New Brunswick and B-C urging all residents to power down to show their concern for the global environment.

Earth Hour is embraced by hundreds of Canadian municipalities — but none more so than Vancouver which the WWF this year named its Global Earth Hour Capital.

It’s a recognition of the city’s efforts to reduce pollution that causes climate change.