People encouraged to wear sweater, turn down heat Thursday

NEW GLASGOW – The Town of New Glasgow is asking its residents to turn down the heat Thursday and throw on a sweater in an effort to support the World Wildlife Fund’s National Sweater Day.

National Sweater Day is held on Feb. 7 and is a day for Canadians to put on a festive sweater and turn down the heat in their homes as a symbol of commitment to the environment.

“Here at home, the Town of New Glasgow is calling on all of its departments and employees to reduce the temperature on each thermostat in their workplace by two degrees on Sweater Day, February 7th, and wear the most stylish or funkiest sweater they have,” Kim Dickson, communications and marketing director for the Town of New Glasgow stated in a press release.

“As well, East Coast FM 94.1, in partnership with the Town of New Glasgow, is promoting a County-wide Sweater Day campaign. Listeners are asked to submit their pictures to ECFM’s Sweater Day Facebook page by February 7th at 6 a.m. Prizes will be handed out for the Silliest Sweater, Fuzziest/Warmest Sweater and Cutest Kids Sweater.”

The press release stated that prizes are compliments of Yours Trudy New and Consignment, the Town of New Glasgow, The Music Shapes New Glasgow spring concert series and Adopt-a-Library.

Carlton Munroe, New Glasgow’s program and events manager, said the day is meant to learn more about being environmentally responsible.

“Sweater Day is a unique, highly visible campaign to get Canadians to think about and learn more about energy conservation, reduce their carbon footprints and have an impact on societal behaviour,” he said.

In the press release, New Glasgow Mayor Barrie MacMillan encouraged the community to get involved in Sweater Day.

“Sweater Day is an easy way to conserve on some energy consumption but more importantly to raise awareness about how we can do things as individuals and as communities to lessen the impact of climate change and to preserve our environment,” he said.

Information about National Sweater Day will be shared through the Town of New Glasgow’s website, Facebook and posters around town.

National Sweater Day is made possible through the WWF and in part from partial proceeds of Loblaw’s national charge-for-plastic shopping bag program, which has reduced the number of plastic bags in stores by 2.5 billion since 2007.