Burnaby folks with a green bent now have a venue for meeting like-minded people once a month.

The Great Bear Pub at 5665 Kingsway is one of the latest venues for Green Drinks International, a series of informal gatherings for people in the environmental field to meet and discuss issues and ideas.

It started in London, U.K. in 1989 when founder Edwin Datschefski and some colleagues came upon some fellow enviro-minded acquaintances in a pub. They pulled some tables together and Green Drinks was born.

Since 2001, when Datschefski created an official web site, it has since spread across the world with 595 cities worldwide organizing gatherings in bars and restaurants.

While it started out attracting people who work in environmental fields, the rule is that everyone is welcome and there is no formal agenda to the get-togethers.

Damian Kettlewell, organizer of Green Drinks Burnaby, stressed that the events are non-partisan and non-political. He’s been attending such events for years in Vancouver, which can draw 100 to 400 people, and thought, “Burnaby deserves something like this.”

Burnaby is home to numerous environmental consultants, non-governmental organizations, BC Hydro, green-minded businesses, as well as an environmentally conscious municipal government, Kettlewell noted.

Along with sharing ideas, the events are a great way to network and gain business contacts.

While Kettlewell has started the local chapter, and located the gatherings at the Great Bear Pub which he co-owns, he hopes someone will eventually take over organizing duties.

“The goal is to build community in Burnaby.”

Green Drinks Burnaby events are held every second Tuesday of the month, with the next one scheduled for Sept. 8 starting at 6 p.m. For more information email damian.kettlewell@gmail.com.

wchow@burnabynewsleader.com