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Spring cleaning in the city

April 21 to 28 is Community Clean-Up week.

By Dave Flaherty/The Oshawa Express

The beauty and cleanliness of a community is the responsibility of all its residents.

Now, City of Oshawa residents have their chance to get in on the art of environmental stewardship through the 22nd annual Community Clean-Up Week.

The annual event will take place during Earth Week, running from April 21 to 28.

Individuals and groups are encouraged to pitch in and help beautify the city’s streets, parks, trails, green spaces, and schoolyards.

“It’s the spirit of getting together. When the city looks better people have more pride in their community,” says Councillor Bob Chapman, who is also chair of Oshawa’s community services committee.

While city staff has a certain amount of duties in keeping things tidy, it’s ultimately a partnership between all residents.

Chapman says the community clean-up has proven successful in the past, and there are various groups, made up of people of different ages and backgrounds, who participate every year.

Rosemary Mason, special events coordinator for the city, expects about 20,000 participants for this year’s event, the majority of which are local students.

“Pretty much every single school in Oshawa is involved,” she says.

The clean-up week began as part of Oshawa’s involvement in the Communities in Bloom program in 1996.

“Every year it’s gotten larger and larger. There is just more emphasis on our environment these days,” Mason says.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Community with Brooms event on Wednesday, April 25.

The event will bring together volunteers as well as local politicians such as Oshawa MP Colin Carrie, MPP Jennifer French, members of Durham Regional Police Service and the John Howard Society.

Communities with Brooms aims to clean up Oshawa’s downtown area.

Chapman says along with increased traffic and business in the downtown core, unfortunately comes more litter, making such an event important.

For more information and for assistance in choosing a community clean-up area or finding a group, contact the city at 905-438-3146 or visit www.oshawa.ca/cleanupweek. To register for Communities with Brooms, email brooms@jhsd.ca.

 

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