Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

FORT LIARD (May 15/98) - When Irene McLeod sets her mind to something, results quickly follow.

The lifelong Fort Liard resident once again demonstrated this last week by organizing a two-day community garbage cleanup.

Held Friday and Saturday, Fort Liard was 200 bags of garbage cleaner after their contents were picked up across the hamlet.

"The community needs to work together like this," she said during a break from picking up trash Friday afternoon. "Everybody should do their little bit. It's a whole lot faster when everyone works together and you get fresh air and exercise."

McLeod heads up the community's Elets'ats'eni Society (Women's Group) and is involved in a wide variety of events and positive issues in Fort Liard.

Other volunteers included: Mary Ehrenberg, Angus McLeod, Lynne Morin, Shirley Bertrand-Jooris, Raymond Kotchea, Eva Hope, Janet Campbell, Darlene Diamond'C-Kotchea and Bernice Hardisty. Echo Dene students and staff and Const. Darren Simons from the RCMP, also took part in the cleanup.

On Saturday, Phillip Betthale, Shirley Bertrand-Jooris, Bernadette Bertrand, Jeffrey Bertrand, Laura Loe, Arthur Loe and Angus McLeod took part.

A cookout in celebration helped close the event.

"Please think twice before you throw away any garbage on the ground," McLeod said. "Use the garbage cans."

"It takes people like yourselves to make us proud to live here. Give yourselves a pat on the back."

The local development corporations, hamlet, band, RCMP, Treeline Construction, Liard Valley General Store, Acho Dene Native Crafts and the highway department supplied donations for the cleanup.

The cash donation from Ed Madsen of Treeline Construction will be donated to the school for youth activities, McLeod said.