Town staff and volunteers put boots on the ground for Earth Day

“Civic pride.”

Those are two words used by Clare Cameron, the Town of Fort Erie’s director of community services, when asked about the importance of rallying residents and municipal staff to participate in local Earth Day efforts.

In recent weeks, the town has handed out about a dozen kits to various groups who hit their neighbourhood of choice to rid it of unwanted garbage.

This includes the Bridgeburg BIA recently organizing a well-attended cleanup, and South Coast Cookhouse holding one on Saturday in Crystal Beach.

But on Tuesday, which was Earth Day, several town staff were deployed to parks and roadsides and a number of volunteers were sprinkled into the mix to help out as well.

Cameron said people were directed on Tuesday to parts of the community where it is evident that trash has been accumulating.

The response has been great, she told Fort Erie Radio in an interview Tuesday morning at town hall.

“Fort Erie seems to be known for really strong community spirit,” she said.

And the town has many spots that deserve some extra love this time of year, once the snow has melted and more people are out and about on a regular basis.

“There are so many beautiful spaces in Fort Erie that are worth taking care of,” she said.

Mayor Wayne Redekop could be found at Optimist Park with a small group on Tuesday.

He reiterated Cameron’s point about civic pride, but also said he hopes the town can put together a plan that involves cleanups taking place more than once a year.

“We need to build on that,” he said.

The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee was also set to beautify Sugarbowl Park later in the afternoon, which he said is nice to see.

“They’re the future of the community and the more they get engaged in this type of thing, the better example they can set for all residents,” said the mayor.

Earlier this year, Fort Erie Radio inquired with the town about overflowing garbage cans at local parks.

An explanation provided by the town was that they are short-staffed this time of year and that once seasonal employees–primarily summer students–come onboard in the coming months, there will be a noticeable difference.

Fort Erie Radio asked Redekop about this on Tuesday, and said he has had discussions with chief administrative officer Chris McQueen about improving in this area, making sure there is someone on the town payroll who can make sure garbage cans are emptied more regularly all year.

“That’s something we’re going to work on,” he said, also noting that people use local amenities like parks and trails 12 months a year.

Michele Mullin could be found picking up trash on Concession Road south of Garrison Road on Tuesday.

Her mother-in-law picked up a kit from town hall and Mullin decided to put it to use.

“Every time I walk by, I see all the stuff embedded in the trees,” she said, adding she usually takes a day in the summer to clean up as well.

South Coast Cookhouse has been hosting its annual cleanup around Earth Day for 12 years, said Phil Smith, owner of the restaurant and other properties in the area.

He said about 40 people came out despite unfavourable weather, most of them sticking around for pizza and wings at the restaurant as a post-cleanup reward.

He told Fort Erie Radio that although there was plenty to ger rid of, many participants commented that there appeared to be less trash than last year.

“What a great thing that is,” he said.

Other spots targeted on Tuesday included Waverly Park, Crystal Beach Waterfront Park, the municipal centre, and a number of roadsides.

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