Cleanup draws crowd to help pick up trash
Volunteer suggests installing cigarette cans around recreation centre
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, June 2, 2016
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Three organizations and 10 individuals braved windy weather on May 28 to help tidy up Fort Simpson.
Hazel Isaiah spent her afternoon on May 28 cleaning up Main Street. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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The Dehcho Friendship Centre, the Fort Simpson Historical Society and a local church group all organized teams to walk the village's streets and pick up trash as part of the community's annual cleanup.
Some pickers stayed out well into the afternoon, while others wrapped up early and joined village staff for a community barbecue at the recreation centre.
Village administrative assistant Marcie Lafferty said the cleanup was organized so pickers could leave their filled bags of garbage by the side of the road for the garbage truck to pick up later in the day.
Among the pickers was Hazel Isaiah, who spent the first hour of her cleanup with the help of her granddaughter, Paige Isaiah. The duo were responsible for cleaning Main Street around the recreation centre.
Hazel said she had taken part in a community cleanup years ago but this was her first one in a while.
"I noticed last year, after the cleanup, Fort Simpson looked great. I really enjoyed seeing the community that clean," she said, explaining why she decided to lend a hand.
"I thought this year I would participate."
Hazel said one cause for concern for her is the amount of old cigarette butts strewn across the grounds around the recreation centre, particularly around the picnic table and in an area often used for barbecues and community gatherings.
"I'd like to talk to the village about installing some cigarette cans in front of this building," she said.
"It took me and another person an hour this morning just to pick up all the cigarette butts in the barbecue area."
Mayor Darlene Sibbeston said the village may look for a new approach to promote the spring cleanup in the future.
"The turnout was not that great ... I assisting with the cleanup," she said.
"If anybody has ideas, please make them known to either an individual on council or to the administration staff."
Regardless, Sibbeston expressed appreciation for the work of the ones who did come out.
"In the end, the committed individuals (and) groups that showed up make us a proud community," she said.
