With the help of a community receptive to sustainibility in action, coupled with a festival that’s sincere in its efforts for a green future, Evolve has been dubbed “Canada’s greenest festival”! Since its inception, Evolve has shown that it is possible host a fun outdoor music festival, while at the same time championing causes, highlighting environmental issues, and inspiring changing behavior.

The Clean Concert Pledge

The goal of the Pledge is to get outdoor festival attendees to leave no trash on the grounds when they leave the festival fields. The Pledge is taken on an individual basis, with the premise that each concert-goer is responsible for their own trash/recycling; putting it in the proper place when the show is over. It’s not just about littering, it’s about assuming individual responsibility for the environment and encouraging others to do the same.

Festival Waste Management

A three-day festival generates a lot of garbage. We all know that the best place for any recyclable material is the recycling plant or being re-used or repurposed, and not in a landfill site or incinerator. Evolve will again be asking your help in undertaking the ambitious effort to produce a festival that generates zero waste. That’s right – we said ZERO WASTE. We need your help!

At the festival, keep your eyes peeled for 35 colour-coded recycling stations conveniently located throughout the Evolve grounds. Our recycling stations make it really easy to properly dispose of paper, plastic, garbage, compost and recyclable cans and bottles. Additionally, our beloved food vendors will be adopting the zero waste initiative in the Awareness Village food court, as well as backstage.

Eco-Friendly Choices

• All Evolve posters and marketing materials are printed on select recycled stock using environmentally-friendly waterless printing presses that eliminate vast amounts of water waste. Additionally, our print shop uses sustainable, renewable Bullfrog Power to run their printers.
• All Evolve clothing merchandise is printed on either organically grown cotton or recycled materials using fair trade and labour practices.
• Evolve food vendors in the village use compostable and biodegradable food packaging and eco-cutlery.
• Evolve encourages car pooling to reduce CO2 emissions per passenger mile. Check out our Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I. Rideboards on Facebook.

Each year, Evolve’s famous “Awareness Village” grows in size and impact – fueled by the passions of those in the Evolve community. In addition to the dozens of grassroots organizations and vendors that will be on hand to raise awareness of various environmental, political and social imperatives, this year Evolve continues its successful program of weekend workshops. This year’s workshops include…

• Intro to Massage Therapy: basic introduction to the safe practice of giving/sharing a massage, general techniques, and subtle anatomy
• Yoga and Meditation Classes: 1 free class per day will be shared by instructors from The Yoga Outlet.
• Cargo Net and Hammock Construction: This course will introduce attendees to techniques on how to make their own hammocks and cargo nets.
• Hoola Hoop Dance Instruction: General class on learning beginner to advanced tricks that can be performed with a hula hoop.
• Heart Circle Facilitation: a workshop on how to move through life with deliberate awareness while at the same time living more joyfully in the moment.
• Yurt Construction: the basics of yurt construction including: coppice as a timber crop, Acadian forest species, making a greenwood working station, using a drawknife and froe, planning and designing your walls, roof, and wheel, and erecting a yurt. Part of our workshops consists of practical issues unique to yurt living, such as heating and insulation.
• Juggling: challenging beginner through advanced techniques using balls and pins that provide fun and improve hand-eye coordination.
• Intro to Reiki: a workshop on the history, and the techniques whereby practitioners believe they are moving “healing energy” with the palms of their hands.
• Hand Drumming Circle, Rhythms, and Percussion Techniques for beginners to experts: This workshop will combine all levels of percussion players from experts to fresh beginners. Drumming is an ancient musical tradition that many cultures around the world use to energize, build unity, focus attention, relax and heighten creativity. A community drum circle is a group of people who come together to make in-the-moment music. No musical experience is necessary! With a few rhythm starters, the circle begins to experience the fun, excitement and humor that collaboration brings.

There will also be several environmental and activist groups at Evolve including: Crusisis, Ecology Action Center, Conservation Council Of New Brunswick, RRFB Nova Scotia, Oxfam, Apathy Is Boring, Katimavik, Greenpeace, GPI Atlantic Youth Program, and MADD. These groups will be sharing their philosophies in the awareness village, and some will have the opportunity to also share and educate from the mainstage.

Check out the workshop schedule, posted at the Awareness Village.