ARVIAT - Arviat is looking a lot better these days after a group of concerned citizens stepped up to lead the way in a spring cleanup this past week.

Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell recently returned to Arviat to find the municipality wasn't able to conduct its usual spring cleanup this year.

Mary Pameolik cleaned up one of four places where Arviat residents could pick up garbage bags for the spring clean this past week. - photo courtesy of The Mikilaaq Centre

When she heard people talking about getting together to clean the hamlet on local radio, she decided to help make the project happen.

"I met with a group of interested people and we organized the cleanup," said Karetak-Lindell.

"We set it up for people to clean up around their house and around town from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

"The Northern store donated four cases of garbage bags and I purchased latex gloves for everyone to wear.

"We had four spots set up around town for people to pick up garbage bags, and those who did were given a ticket for a little draw we had in the evenings for prizes donated to the cleanup."

Karetak-Lindell said the community responded well to the effort and everyone can see a big difference now.

She said she's also trying to get all the old vehicles in the community taken to the metal dump.

"We're asking people to call us to get rid of their bulky garbage and sometime before the end of the month, we'll arrange to get that taken to the dump also.

"A lot of people got really fired up to clean our hamlet.

"Hopefully, everyone will feel compelled to clean their yard when they see everyone else cleaning theirs.

"The community just needed a few concerned citizens to spearhead the project."

People leave the full bags and their bulky garbage on the side of the road to be picked up and transported to the dump.

William Kopak has been using his ATV and trailer to help pick up the garbage and take it to the dump.

Karetak-Lindell said while she's happy with the effort of the past week, it's just the first step.

"We have to convince those who litter to put their garbage in the garbage cans around the hamlet.

"We have to make it uncool to litter and cool to toss garbage where it belongs."