Saturday Earth Hour takes place and the world is encouraged to turn off their lights for a single hour.

Earth Hour originated in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and now incorporates 172 different countries.

In Okotoks Earth Hour is being celebrated my turning off lights or any other non-essential electronics as well as by walking and talking.

Museum Specialist Kathy Coutts conducts a heritage walk through town and asks why sit in the dark when you can be learning about the town?

"This year is our second year of doing a heritage walk. We figured why sit at the home in the dark when you can come outside, enjoy the fresh air and learn something about the community. So from that one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 we're doing a free heritage walk in the down town region."

Coutts says the walk will include history about when essential services were introduced into the community, tying in nicely with the Earth Hour theme.

"It will include a bit of history of the buildings in the down town area as well as a bit of history of when electricity came to the town, when water and sewer came to the town. Some of those essential services that we take for granted now."

Last years group was small but Coutts says no matter the number the heritage walk will happen whatever the weather.

"And we will run rain or shine and as many people show up we will do the tour."

If interested in joining the walk bring comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate clothing, the heritage walk starts at 8:30 p.m. at the museum.

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