City Wide Cleanup Is All About Pride In Moose Jaw

For one councillor the City needs a good Spring cleaning to make it look more tidy and neat.

He is hoping for an outpouring of community pride and volunteerism will help rectify the unsightly parts of Moose Jaw.

“I think definitely there is definitely a general untidiness in our fair city here,” Councillor Kim Robinson and chair of the Community Cleanup Committee told MJ Independent.

To help clean up the litter there will be a Community Cleanup Day held on Sunday May 15th from 10 am to 1 pm with FREE hamburgers and a drink provided at the Co-op on 1st Avenue NW.

For those who are out cleaning the burgers will be on longer to allow them to come to the Co-op for a burger after cleaning.

The day will be part of Community Cleanup Week which kicks off on May 9th.

Keeping the city clean is all about pride in Moose Jaw but also has other benefits for residents who feel better not looking at litter, can help attract residents as well as help with economic development, Councillor Robinson said.

“I personally think we need to clean up so we can have some pride in our city. It is a good way we can show we are proud of it,” he said.

A clean city is a must for Robinson.

“I think there is a lot more than pride involved in having a clean city,” he said, adding how it can help to attract new residents and effect economic development.

He spoke of a young couple who recently decided to move to Moose Jaw because their exploring showed it to be a nice friendly place.

“They said it looks like a nice place to live, it is a nice little community but they would have made up their minds faster seeing a nice clean city.”

As part of the day Robinson said they are asking people to take pictures of their own cleanup efforts and post them on social media with the hashtag #cleanupMJ. For those who do not know a hashtag starts with a # and is used to identify digital content on a specific topic.

The hashtagged photos will allow the City to more easily collect them and show others what efforts people put into the cleanup.

Although the event last three hours he said people who are physically able to only pick up litter for half an hour are more than welcome to come down to the Co-op and join everyone there.

“That is half an hour of picking up litter than before, every bit of help is welcome.”

Asked what areas of the city could use some tender loving care when it came to litter Robinson pointed out the Manitoba Expressway and the trees on the east side of 9th Avenue NW which could use some tidying up.

Another area of concern for Councillor Robinson is the area around the Moose Jaw landfill and how people coming to visit the city is the first thing they see.

Plastic litter blown from the Moose Jaw landfill caught in a farmer’s fence is a sore spot in making the community look clean and tidy - MJ Independent file photo

So far Councillor Robinson said he has seen strong support in the community for the committee and he hopes it transfers to into people volunteering to pitch in and do their part and clean up where they are able to.

The group’s Facebook Page already has 80 people as members. Businesses have donated high visibility vests to the committee to make people out picking up litter more visible to motorists.

The committee also discussed the potential of having Moose Jaw Minor Football clean up MacDonald and Elks Field and Moose Jaw Minor Baseball clean up the ball diamonds around town.

Asked if he would like to see local schools participate in the effort Robinson said most definitely and encouraged them if they are able to to clean up a couple of blocks surrounding each school.

The May 15th barbecue is not just something for people who volunteer and pitch in but it is open to others who would like to show their support and pride in Moose Jaw.

“I am 100 percent fine if a person just wants to come down with a couple of neighbours to come down and join us. It is also about showing support for our city.”

There are also other ways people can show their support for the cleanup efforts and that is not to litter, tarp their loads when heading to the landfill and also realize anything thrown in the back of half ton trucks often blows out of the back and becomes litter, he said.

“Stuff people put in the back of their half tons often blows out and contributes quite a lot to litter. Be aware of what you put in the back of your truck.”

For those who do pick up litter in their neighbourhood Robinson said if they hashtag and let them know if they are not able to put the bags into their trash bins as a local bobcat firm has volunteered to drive around and pick up the bags.

The City is requesting any individuals or groups who will be participating to register by email to cleanup@moosejaw.ca.

Asked if this would include such things as big tree branches he said those would be much better dealt with during the Free Yard Waste coming up later in May.

He did add if the branches could be broken up and put into bags it would be OK to haul away.

Further information can be found by clicking the link .