Green makeover

Everyone needs to take responsibility for keeping their little piece of Thunder Bay clean and green, said EcoSuperior program co-ordinator Karen Copeland.

“Whether it’s a business or home or school, just take care of that piece and it will help in the long run,” she said Friday morning at the launch of the 15th annual Spring Up to Clean Up campaign.


Started in 1996 by a then 10-year-old Elizabeth de Bakker, Spring Up to Clean Up sees up to 11,000 people city-wide participate during the month-long event to clean the city of litter.
 
The campaign kicked off Friday with a 20-minute makeover of Thunder Bay’s downtown and business areas; Copeland said about 100 businesses signed up to clean up the areas surrounding their workplaces at 10 a.m.

“It’s incredible, the enthusiasm,” she said. “They come in and they just want to make things better. They get out there, they do it and they have fun.”

There is a large build-up of garbage on the streets over the winter months and Copeland said it poses several hazards to children and animals.

“It gets into the water. It can decrease property values. It can discourage investment in the city,” she said. “It just shows a lack of pride and I think Thunder Bay’s people are proud of their city.”

Robert Koskiniemi, owner of The Finnish Bookstore and Kitchen Nook on the corner of Bay and Algoma Streets, said there is a lot of pride just in the Bay and Algoma neighbourhood and participating in Spring Up to Clean Up reinforces the sense of community.

Having the neighbourhood look clean and inviting is also important in attracting business locally and through tourism.

“I think it’s a great idea that EcoSuperior has programs like this, that brings it into focus and encourage people to participate and be a part of it,” he said. 

For the 10th anniversary of the event, de Bakker returned for the clean-up and was pleased at the growing number of participants but also dismayed there was still a need for it, said Copeland.

Education is key as well as putting more ashtrays and litter and recycling bins outdoors, she added.

“You have to make it easy for people to get their garbage into the bin because a lot of people won’t carry it to the nearest garbage can unless there’s one in eyesight,” she said.

Any families, workplaces, schools, community groups and individuals wanting to get involved in Spring Up to Clean up can sign-up at http://www.ecosuperior.org or call 624-2143.