North Bay environmental action group continues to clean city streets through community clean-up challenge
The environmental action group Clean, Green, Beautiful North Bay is wrapping up its last major beautification initiative for the season on Saturday.
Armed with litter bags and trash tongs, the clean up crews were out in different areas around the city cleaning up disposed litter.
“I’ve been seeing a lot of garbage around the city and it’s nice to be out with a group making the city cleaner,” said volunteer April McCrum
Throughout the summer, Clean, Green Beautiful North Bay has been hosting different kinds of beautification challenges to encourage people to take care of the environment. The major push is the community-wide clean up.
“We want to have one great day where we’re absolutely litter free,” said the group’s chair Hariett Madigan. “Our job is to spread the word of kindness to our environment.”
Those choosing to volunteer can pick up bags at Main St. and pick up trash in their neighbourhood, from nearby park, or other areas.
Every bag that is collected, volunteers’ name is entered in a draw to win prizes like gift cards or Muskoka Chairs.
“I heard they were cleaning up the city and I thought it was a wonderful idea so I thought I’d put in my 1-3 hours,” said volunteer Mike Gelinas.
The most common things found include single-use plastics, coffee cups, and all types of garbage that is not disposed of properly.
“We make quite a difference in the appearance in our city when we do this,” explained Matthew Robertson who has been volunteering with the group since June.
Throughout the entire summer, 8,000 litter bags were handed out and returned full to the brim with trash.
“When you have a clean, green city, there’s less crime and there’s more stewardship and community engagement,” explained Madigan.
The organization plans to enter the city in the 2022 Communities in Bloom competition which judges municipalities, provincially, and nationally based on a number of criteria. These criteria include community appearance, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape, and floral displays and environmental action.
“I think it’s possible to win,” said McCrum. “With all of the community coming out and helping out, for sure it’s doable.”
To win that award, the group hopes that picking up litter will create a healthy, safe city to live in.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.