FORT SIMPSON - Garbage and litter is a lot harder to find in Fort Simpson these days thanks to a community effort.

More than 80 people came out on May 3 to participate in the community cleanup organized by the Northern Store.

With rubber gloves in place, Crystel Menicoche, left, and Allan Menicoche were just some of the many Fort Simpson residents who took part in the community cleanup organized by the Northern Store. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Northern Stores have held community cleanups for 16 years. It has, however, been a while since a cleanup has been organized by the Fort Simpson location, said Lora Holland, one of the organizers.She said she decided to restart the cleanup in the village after the warm weather arrived.

"Once the snow started melting it was apparent it needed a cleanup," she said.

As a reward for their efforts, cleanup volunteers enjoyed a barbecue and face painting after the event. Holland said she was impressed by the community's support.

"We were pleasantly surprised by the turnout," she said.

Cleanups in P.E.I., Holland's previous home, could be planned for months and not get this kind of turnout, she said.

A total of 18 teams from various businesses and organizations in the community participated. An additional six people who didn't have teams arrived at the cleanup and also pitched in.

Teams could be found almost everywhere trailing clear garbage bags full of odds and ends.

Members of Girl Guides and their parents tided up near the schoolyards, village staff had the Papal grounds area, staff from T.J.'s and a team from the Northern store started at Main Street between the Anglican church and the Sub Arctic and swept down towards the river bank. A team from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada even tackled the grassy field on Main Street across from the Family Cultural Centre.

Staff from Rowe's Construction used a loader to pick up the full garbage bags from around the village and loaded them into a dump truck.

In two hours, more than a full dump truck of garbage was picked up from around the village.

"There's lots out there. I was surprised," said Holland about the amount of litter.

The village's team of Olinto Beaulieu, Lorna Beaulieu, Denise Alger, Winter Alger, Burt Tsetso and Kathy Tsetso got a sense of the amount of litter while cleaning up near the Papal grounds.

The area was "very dirty," said Lorna Beaulieu. The most common type of litter was white plastic garbage bags.

Despite the dirty nature of the task, Beaulieu said she didn't mind being part of the cleanup.

"It was fun," she said.

Christie Horesay and her team made of two friends and two cousins also had fun.

The area between the Sub Arctic and McPherson house that they were assigned to didn't have too much garbage, said Horesay. Most of the litter was pop cans and paper coffee cups. Someone, however, will soon have dirty floors. The team also found a wooden mop.