THUNDER BAY — Neither his advanced age nor his mobility challenges prevent Reino Kivisto from tackling the litter problem in his Grandview-area neighbourhood.
Kivisto is 91 years old and uses a wheelchair.
Now that the snow is gone, he's once again rolling out of his apartment building behind Grandview Mall on a regular basis to pick up trash along several blocks of River Street between Whalen Street and Tim Hortons.
Armed with a trashpicker, it takes more than one excursion for him to finish the route, plus the section from his apartment to River Street.
Kivisto says the amount of litter in the area has always bothered him.
"It looks so bad when you've got all them cigarette butts and papers, and oodles of plastic that go into the sewer. They're dangerous for wildlife and fish. So you've gotta try to do something about it."
He thinks the example that he started setting last summer is having an impact on others.
"I noticed when I was cleaning, people started throwing away less," Kivisto said.
Nonetheless, he managed to fill three shopping bags with litter on Monday alone.
Kivisto frequently gets an acknowledgement and a 'thank you' from passersby.
He said Tbaytel's local hero campaign also recognized him last year.
The organizers of EcoSuperior's Spring Up to Clean Up may point to the community spirit Kivisto exemplifies as they promote their project.
It takes place in May, but registration begins online on April 1.
