Time to spring-clean Squamish during annual Pitch-In Week Canada April 20 to 26, 2014

The onset of spring brings warm days that tempt residents outside and into all corners of the community. It’s also the time of year where garbage accumulated over winter months is revealed. The District of Squamish is once again taking part in Pitch-In Week, Canada's largest environmental improvement campaign. With Pitch-In Week getting underway this Sunday April 20 through April 26, there’s no better time for residents to pitch in and help spring-clean the community.

With 21 groups and a total of 1,362 participants registered to date, Pitch-In Week continues to bring attention to the local environment and demonstrate that residents of Squamish care about their community and the livability of Squamish.

“Squamish has a long-standing tradition of taking part in the annual National Pitch-In Canada week, and finding creative ways to encourage everyone to pitch in,” says Mayor Rob Kirkham, District of Squamish. “Squamish residents take great pride in our community, and this is a perfect opportunity for everyone to get out and lend a hand. A community-wide effort makes the job an easy one.”

Pitch-In Week Events:

Throughout the week:

• Community Cleanup Days* – pre-registered groups sign up to clean up a particular area. Pre-registered groups receive gloves and bags, as well as full support as necessary from the District Operations Team. Groups of neighbours, friends, family members and community or sports groups are encouraged to ‘adopt’ a street or area and tackle it together. There’s strength (and fun) in numbers. Visit www.squamish.ca/PitchIn to register.

• Walk 4 Wildlife (April 23 and 24), a new initiative organized last year by Bear Aware, takes children on nature walks and a cleanup mission in and around the schools to teach about wildlife habitat and the effects garbage can have.

• Recycleman Poster Contest, organized through Carney’s with the area elementary schools. Posters will be collected and winners chosen the week of April 21. Winning posters will be displayed in The Chief Newspaper in May.

Thursday, April 24, 12 p.m., Skateboard Park/Youth Centre, 1135 Carson Place

• Fastest Picker contest – Squamish Council will go shoulder-to-shoulder against local media and Howe Sound Secondary School’s Leadership Team to secure the ultimate trophy. The one-and-only Recycleman will officiate the Fastest Picker contest and will award the prize to the winning team.

Thursday, April 24 at 2 p.m.

• 20-Minute Makeover* – for residents who don’t have a lot of time but want to help out, the 20-Minute Makeover is a low-commitment way to make a big impact. Residents are asked to simply head outside and pick up litter for just 20 minutes around their immediate area. Squamish will be doing it en masse at 2 p.m. that day.

*All volunteers signing up for the Community Cleanup Days and 20-Minute Makeover are asked to please register at www.squamish.ca/PitchIn or by calling Pitch-In Headquarters at 604-815-6868. All registered groups are provided with free gloves, garbage and recycling bags.

The District would also like to appeal to pet owners and ask them to please pick up after their dogs, and dispose of the waste bags in a garbage receptacle. Dog waste is harmful to children, the environment and the water system.

April 15, 2014