Team up for cleanup
Residents take to the streets for the community
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, May 26, 2016
INUVIK
The downtown core is looking better after efforts to clean up last week.
Sheila O'Kane, left, Robert Kendi, Stick, Christopher Rivett, Lori-Ann Kunnizzi, and Lyle Frank finish loading up the back of a pickup with about half the garbage collected from the streets of Inuvik May 18. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo
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The RCMP partnered with the Inuvik Emergency Warming Centre and interagency groups to put on a community cleanup May 18.
"The idea was for the users of the warming centre to give back to the community and help clean up," said Sgt. Scott Young. "They're provided with warm meals and a place to sleep, and this is a way for them to show they appreciate it."
Young said the idea for a communal cleanup occurred to him after he saw how much garbage the melting snow had left behind after the winter.
With National Police Week fast approaching, he contacted the centre to see if they would be interested in a joint effort.
"We support the warming centre," he said. "We've made a lot of donations, and they really help us out in a lot of ways."
More than 20 people turned out the afternoon of May 18 to help clean up, including residents of the centre and workers for interagency groups including the Inuvik Justice Committee. The town donated picnic tables and the barbecue, Statons and Northmart provided the food, and police officers brought their grilling skills.
"The residents are out there, helping out," said warming centre director Joey Amos. "They want to give back, show how much they appreciate the community stepping up for them."
Amos said the community support for the centre has been incredible, from donations of all sizes and types to partnerships with many groups.
"We're cleaning up our neighbourhood," he said. "And paying out to the town for providing a safe place to sleep for our residents."
While this particular event was something of a one-off, Amos and Young did not reject the possibility of working together again sometime.
"This is not going to be the last time we work together," said Amos. "If there's another opportunity to clean up again - to help give back again - we'll take it."
