Earth Day falls on this Sunday, April 22 and two local groups have taken on a large challenge for their goal of a better Earth.
The Kaien Environmental Youth Society (KEYS) and WWF-Canada, have decided to team up to clean up the Wantage Road.
The stretch of pot holed road stretches from the Civic centre past the golf course and eventually runs up Mount Hays.
Over the years, Rupertites perhaps remembering that the city dump used to be out that way, have taken to dumping their unwanted items wherever a bush may be, creating a rather nasty bit of blight along the road.
From 10 am to 2 pm on Sunday the two groups will attempt to clean up as much of the road as they can, all part of their project for Earth Day. Anyone wishing to volunteer can help out; they get things under way at 10 at the Oldfield creek hatchery site.
The Daily News had full details on their ambitions in the Wednesday paper.
Blot on landscape target for Earth Day
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Pages one and five
The Kaien Environmental Youth Society (KEYS) and WWF-Canada are taking on one of the most challenging clean-up’s ever this Sunday — and they need every helping hand they can get.
The two groups have organized a clean up of Wantage Road as part of their Earth Day activities on Sun., April 22.
The road, that starts behind the Lester Centre, winds along the Oldfield Hatchery, behind the golf course and eventually heads up Mount Hays, is littered with household garbage, old furniture and appliances.
“Because it’s such a daunting task no one has really wanted to take it on,” said Jennifer Rice, Community Programs Co-ordinator for WWF-Canada.
“The Kaien Environmental Youth Society, these young adults are just so amazing ... when I mentioned Wantage Road was just disgraceful looking, they agreed to take it on. We went forward with that just because of their energy.”
Local businesses have been very supportive of the initiative, coming forward with donations of time and goods, however, what the groups really need now is some additional committed elbow grease.
The stream rehabilitation Northwest Community College class, including about 12 people, are coming along to help at the area around the Oldfield Hatchery and there are another 12 young people or so from KEYS.
So far, a few people from the around town have committed to help out, but with this much garbage, the more the merrier, she said.
“We just need people-power behind it to gather the garbage and put it all in one area,” said Rice.
The city has agreed to pick up the collected garbage and to dispose of it free of charge. The recycling depot also agreed to take any white goods, because there are a few refrigerators out there. The group won’t be tackling the cars off the cliff, however there is a lot of household garbage rotting in the area.
“Because it is such as daunting task, it’s not something a handful of people can do,” she said.
The Wantage Road area is used a lot by walkers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts, however in recent years it’s been transformed from pristine wilderness to a dumping group.
The clean-up takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with volunteers meeting at the Oldfield Hatchery at 10 a.m.
Gloves, garbage bags and safety instructions will be provided.
Following the clean-up, the two groups will be hosting the Be Aware Fair and barbecue from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Northwest Community College.
There will be green-themed activities for all ages, an interactive on-line tour to calculate your carbon footprint, crafts for kids, information booths and easy and useful tips for sustainable living.
“They’ve got tips for living sustainably beyond the normal ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’ and they are making it family-friendly with hot dogs and vegetable skewers,” said Rice.
“The idea was to make a day for everyone, not just environmentalists and greenies,” she said.
Anyone who would like more information on either event is asked to contact Rice at 624-2705, Brooke Ward at 622-7334 or Alex van Vianen at 622-9991.
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