The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 13, 2012 · 8 Residents interested in learning more about the importance of biodiversity are encouraged to attend the 12th annual Halton Eco Festival tomorrow (Saturday). The festival, which will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., takes place at the Glen Abbey Community Centre on Third Line, just south of Upper Middle Road. This year's event features free admission and free parking, as well as a free draw for $500 worth of bedding accessories. There will be 60 booths and live animal demonstrations from Exotic Critter Tales at noon and 3 p.m. The demonstrations will feature reptiles (snakes and alligators), a coatimundi, sugar glider, marmoset, lemur, cavy and young kangaroo. There will also be an interactive kids eco-fun zone called It's a Kid's Planet. Free blue boxes will be distributed by sponsor Halton Region (Public Works). An Eco café will offer pizza, samosas, pakoras, baked goods, coffee, tea, juice and organic pop. The festival will also host free educational presentations on the emerald ash borer (11 a.m.), eco-friendly gardening (1 p.m.), and biodiversity (2 p.m.). "This year we are promoting the concept of biodiversity because 2011-2020 is the Decade of Biodiversity as declared by the United Nations," said Don Meade, a board member for festival organizer, the Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights (OCCPEHR). "The Halton Eco Festival highlights the environmental contributions of local, not-for-profit groups, governments and businesses. The event generates a lot of positive energy, contributes immensely to the development of a greater environmental consciousness throughout Halton Region's four municipalities and is one of Ontario's longest-running environmental fairs. Visitors are people who are interested in nature, the environment, their family's health and the sustainability of their community." For more information, contact show manager Stephen Dankowich at 905-849-5501 or info@ oakvillepeacecentre.org. Eco Fest is here Saturday