THUNDER BAY – Today, May 1st is the official start of cleaning up a winter’s worth of mess in Thunder Bay.
Today is the official launch of the City of Thunder Bay’s annual Spring Up to Clean Up campaign. The City of Thunder Bay has sponsored this community-wide litter cleanup in partnership with EcoSuperior since 1996. Over the years, the program has grown to approximately 10,000 participants annually working to beautify over 200 areas of our community.
This May will be the 23rd annual Spring Up to Clean Up and the program is continuing to grow, welcoming new partners, participants and sponsors, and providing more events for the community to take part in. Pride in our community is increasing. We are seeing more and more people wanting to get out and help make Thunder Bay a more beautiful place to live. We are ready to harness that energy this spring and to support those helping to create a clean, green and beautiful Thunder Bay.
To kick things off, nearly 100 businesses and offices are taking part in the 20-Minute Makeover event. Staff and management at workplaces across the city are stepping outside throughout the day for 20 minutes to clean up litter from around their neighbourhoods. Registered workplaces received Spring Up garbage bags, public recognition and a token of appreciation from contributing sponsors Bay Village Coffee, Canadian Wholesale Club, Coca Cola Canada, Maltese Grocery, Bay Lock and Key, Big Pines Trailer Sales, Ontario Power Generation and the Bay & Algoma Neighbourhood.
At the launch event, there were words of encouragement by Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro, Jason Sherband (Manager – Solid Waste and Recycling Services, City of Thunder Bay), Tana-Leigh Harty (Corporate Relations and Communications, Ontario Power Generation – Northwest Operations) and Julia Prinselaar and Shannon Costigan (EcoSuperior, Spring Up Coordinators). At 10:30 am the 20-Minute Makeover kicked off when businesses in the Bay Algoma Neighbourhood came together for an annual litter cleanup hosted by Bay Village Coffee.
“It is impressive to see such a large number of individuals, families, clubs, schools and businesses who come back year after year to do their regular Spring Up cleanups during the month of May. The work all these hands accomplish is significant, and is a big part of keeping our City clean, green, and beautiful,” says Jason Sherband, Manager – Solid Waste and Recycling Services, City of Thunder Bay.
Prinselaar was pleased with the response from community organizations this year.
“As soon as the snow begins to melt, we see a tremendous response from the community to get involved in Spring Up to Clean Up. The support from associations like the Bay Algoma Neighbourhood, who are hosting this year’s campaign launch, show that Thunder Bay businesses are keen to work together to tackle litter in our community,” said Prinselaar.
There are lots of ways to get involved!
Sign Up and Spring Up to Clean Up your neighbourhood
Individuals, families, workplaces, schools and community groups can still register their May litter cleanups to receive free garbage and recycling bags, prizes and public recognition. Sign up online at www.ecosuperior.org/springup
or contact Shannon at 624-2142.
Participate in a cleanup event during the month of May. Volunteers receive free cleanup supplies and refreshments. Check out the event schedule at www.ecosuperior.org/springupevents or contact Shannon at 624-2142.
Spring Up to Clean Up Contests for Everyone
There are many contests to take part in to help with litter reduction. Elementary students can enter the Litter-Free poster contest for a chance to win prizes and have their poster printed and distributed around the city. Not a student? No worries – anyone can enter the Spring Up to Clean Up photo contest. Take a photo of your group in action. All contest info can be found at www.ecosuperior.org/springup
