Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 14/01) - A city councillor is hoping funky garbage cans will trigger an attitude change within Yellowknifers over littering.

Coun. Dave McCann is part of the barely year-old Civic Pride committee currently promoting a competition for trash can designs meant to entice would-be litterers from using sidewalks as a drop off for empty pop cans and chip bags.

"We want to do a lot of consciousness raising." said McCann. "To me a strong element to the trash can is the question of making Yellowknife more conscious of trash and the role each citizen has in making the town cleaner."

The committee is looking for local artists to submit designs. It could be anything from a raven to a jack fish.

On Dec 7 the committee will award a $5,000 contract to the winner.

Details are still sketchy on where the money will come from. McCann said there are some interested parties in the private sector and some of the money is already in the bank. Alex Boroweicka, a landscape architect and 20-year Yellowknife resident said litter around town gets to her.

A part-time artist, she wants to enter the contest. "I think it's a wonderful idea," she said but didn't reveal any of her ideas.

The contest ends Nov 30.