Brampton - The City of Brampton is gearing up for Earth Hour on March 29, a worldwide initiative launched by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), the global conservation organization. It will be lights-off between 8 and 9 p.m. at City facilities for all non-essential lights. Lights affecting public safety, security or service – such as streetlights, stoplights and parking lights at City facilities – will remain on. However, public programming at recreation and community centres will continue as normal.

"Brampton has always taken a leadership role in protecting our environment and addressing the issue of climate change. We are proud to participate in Earth Hour, which symbolizes our commitment to protecting the environment and to finding solutions for climate change. I encourage everyone to join in and turn off their lights for that one hour," said Mayor Susan Fennell. In partnership with Hydro One Brampton, the Brampton Board of Trade, Community Spirit Team, Mayor's Youth Team and the Region of Peel, the City of Brampton is encouraging all residents and businesses to join the campaign and turn off the lights and non-essential appliances during this time.

The Mayor's Youth Team and the City's Environment Sub-committee have developed a TV/Radio commercial – "One Hour No Power" – which will be played at high schools across Brampton, encouraging students to become involved in the Earth Hour initiative. Emails have been sent out to 5,000 families encouraging them to sign up for the campaign. In support of the campaign, lights will go off inside the Rose Theatre Brampton at 8:00 p.m. sharp on Saturday, March 29, as the Brampton Symphony Orchestra (BSO) presents a special Earth Hour concert to highlight the world event. For more information on Brampton's participation visit http://www.brampton.ca/earthhour/

The Earth Hour campaign by the WWF, started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 when 2.2 million people and 2,100 Sydney businesses turned off the lights for one hour, lowering the city's energy consumption by 10.2 per cent. The effect was equivalent to taking 48,000 cars off the road for one hour, according to organizers. This campaign has now spread to major cities worldwide making Earth Hour 2008 a global movement.