SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - For most people, being approached by a parking enforcement officer with his or her pen out is a stomach-dropping moment. However, for the past few months some Yellowknifers have been getting a pleasant surprise.

Const. Allyce Rattray writes out a different kind of ticket - a $5 voucher for picking up litter. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

"It's good to give something nice out, something people can enjoy," said Const. Allyce Rattray, the downtown parking enforcement officer.

Rattray is referring to the city's litter ticket program, which rewards people who are seen picking up litter in the city with a voucher that entitles the holder to $5 off admission, registration or rental fees for any city program or facility.

"No one had really heard about it, so they're always surprised and interested when they learn about it," said Rattray.

The initiative began at the end of July, and so far she's given out 20 tickets to the delight of recipients.

"They really like it," she said. "It's always a surprise because they're worried when I come up and talk to them."

Rattray said she often sees the same people picking up litter.

"I see the same people doing it a lot, but I only give tickets to different people otherwise a few people would be getting a lot of tickets," she said.

She said 49 Street is the most litter-conscience street in the downtown area.

"There are a lot of business people, when they go out on their breaks, they'll pick up trash," she said.

"I see a lot of people picking up trash but I often won't get to them in time because I'm usually a couple of blocks away."

Grant White, director of Community Services, said the idea bubbled up from somewhere in the Community Services Department because Rattray is in the perfect position to monitor litter.

"The idea is that, she is downtown for all of her work days and she's on foot," he said. "So she sees all the people that are doing random acts of litter control."

City councillor Paul Falvo, who launched a litter pick-up group a couple years ago with former Javaroma owner Adrien Bell, said it is good to see parking enforcement officers hand over tickets people want for a change.

"I think the bylaw officers have a difficult job," he said. "They're out there on the pointy end of the stick and it's a completely thankless job."

He said positive reinforcement is a worthwhile endeavour but the goodwill approach will not replace the need for enforcement.

"People often comment that we need to use a carrot instead of a stick, and this is an example of that," he said.

"I don't think that this type of measure is ever going to completely replace enforcement, but it's just one of the tools that we have."