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Meewasin’s 42nd annual cleanup campaign commenced on Monday, and will continue through the end of May.
The initiative calls on community groups, associations and individuals to pick up trash and thoroughly clean their local natural spaces using the cleaning supplies Meewasin provides.
Keeping the Meewasin Valley healthy is a top priority, according to Andrea Lafond, CEO of the Meewasin Valley Authority.
“The river valley is home to a number of vulnerable species,” Lafond said.
(Dulce Abela/650 CKOM)
“Keeping it healthy and vibrant for our friends in the valley is critically important.”
According to Meewasin, more than 200 plant species, 100 bird species and numerous insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals inhabit the valley.
The 2022 campaign attracted more than 2,700 volunteers who collected 11,080 kilograms of garbage and recycling from the city’s natural areas.
“We already have 1,200 registered volunteers and it’s only day one,” said Samantha Cowan, Meewasin’s volunteer and experience co-ordinator.
“We’re hoping we can up the numbers for both the capacity of garbage and the amount of people who come out and volunteer with us this year.”
Volunteer Robyn Chatlain said everyone enjoying the river valley should help keep it clean by picking up litter along the way.
“If you’re walking, then there’s going to be a garbage nearby that you can throw it into,” Chatlain said.
First-time volunteer Rodrigo Enriquez said it feels rewarding to help, and added that it feels better than cleaning up his own home.
To make the cleanup campaign more enjoyable, Meewasin arranged a mini competition to help encourage people to join in. Prizes are awarded to those who collect the most cigarette butts, masks, and garbage.
“The idea behind cigarette butts was that we usually miss the cigarette butts because we’re looking at the bigger garbage without understanding that cigarette butts do a whole lot more harm to the river valley than a piece of glass or a larger amount of litter,” Cowan said.
She added that cigarette butts take 10 years to decompose.
Whoever finds the most interesting item while cleaning will also get a prize. On Monday a volunteer received a prize for finding a coffee maker.
“Last year’s competition was so funny, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what people find this year,” Cowan added.
She said a volunteer found ripped-up photos of someone’s face last year, so they assumed someone went through a really bad breakup.