It’s the time of year when Squamish officials truly get down and dirty.
Sunday (April 20) to Saturday, April 26, marks Canada’s largest environmental improvement campaign. Throughout the week, District of Squamish officials, Squamish students and local businesses will scour streets and parks, garbage bags in hand, as a part of Pitch-In Week.
“Squamish has a long-standing tradition of taking part in the annual National Pitch-In Canada week, and finding creative ways to encourage everyone to pitch in,” Mayor Rob Kirkham said in a statement.
As of Tuesday (April 15), 21 groups and 1,362 participants have registered for the event. The week highlights the local environment and gives residents a chance to take pride in their community, Kirkham noted.
Pitch-In Week Events:
Throughout the week:
· Community Cleanup Days* – pre-registered groups sign up to clean up a particular area. Pre-registered groups receive gloves and bags, as well as full support as necessary from the District Operations Team. Groups of neighbours, friends, family members and community or sports groups are encouraged to ‘adopt’ a street or area and tackle it together. There’s strength (and fun) in numbers. Visit www.squamish.ca/PitchIn to register.
· Walk 4 Wildlife (April 23 and 24), a new initiative organized last year by Bear Aware, takes children on nature walks and a cleanup mission in and around the schools to teach about wildlife habitat and the effects garbage can have.
· Recycleman Poster Contest, organized through Carney’s with the area elementary schools. Posters will be collected and winners chosen the week of April 21. Winning posters will be displayed in The Chief Newspaper in May.
Thursday, April 24, 12 p.m.:
Skateboard Park/Youth Centre, 1135 Carson Place· Fastest Picker contest – Squamish Council will go shoulder-to-shoulder against local media and Howe Sound Secondary School’s Leadership Team to secure the ultimate trophy. The one-and-only Recycleman will officiate the Fastest Picker contest and will award the prize to the winning team.
Thursday, April 24 at 2 p.m.:
· 20-Minute Makeover* – for residents who don’t have a lot of time but want to help out, the 20-Minute Makeover is a low-commitment way to make a big impact. Residents are asked to simply head outside and pick up litter for just 20 minutes around their immediate area. Squamish will be doing it en masse at 2 p.m. that day.
*All volunteers signing up for the Community Cleanup Days and 20-Minute Makeover are asked to please register at www.squamish.ca/PitchIn or by calling Pitch-In Headquarters at 604-815-6868. All registered groups are provided with free gloves, garbage and recycling bags.
For information on Pitch-In Week events, visit www.squamish.ca/PitchIn
