A green leaf is a symbol of the City of St. Albert that appears on signs throughout the city. It signals a city that is proud of its appearance and its green efforts.
This time of year it can be tough to reconcile the green leaf with the litter and trash that clogs some alleys, bushes and bulrushes along the river. The snow has melted, revealing a winter’s worth of litter left behind.
This is an eyesore to the hundreds of people who enjoy our city as they enjoy parks or run, bike or stroll along the streets and trails. The garbage, especially the plastic, is a threat to birds and other wildlife that populate the river area.
Spruce Up St. Albert aims to improve this. The seven-month community initiative runs from April to October and encourages residents of all ages to help clean up and beautify the city. Neighbours, school children and others are encouraged to clean up natural areas, neighbourhoods, and schoolyards through such initiatives as Partners in Parks, Natural Area/Neighbourhood Clean Ups and the City Wide Clean Up.
One of the first big events of the year is the TD Clean and Green Riverfest slated for Saturday May 7. That’s the day when volunteers will clean up along the river, plant trees. Participants can enjoy a barbecue and environmental fair courtesy of St. Albert Centre. Events run from 2 to 5 p.m. along the river east of St. Albert Centre.
Most of the trash discovered along the Sturgeon River Valley during the clean up is paper and disposable food containers. Some years even shopping carts, car parts, furniture and clothing are discovered along the river.
The TD Clean and Green RiverFest combines an annual river clean-up with The River Edge Enhancement Project (REEP); a community partnership consisting of community members, BLESS volunteers and city staff who each year work on increasing the amount of animal habitat in the river valley by planting native trees and shrubs along the river’s edge. The more habitat, the more residents can connect with the birds and other creatures that depend on the river valley.
The event is for all ages. It’s an opportunity for individuals, groups or families to attend and to learn how everyone can impact his/her environment in a positive way. The environment fair part of the day provides many learning opportunities to this theme. Learn more and sign up for this initiative or others at stalbert.ca/spruceup
If you can’t participate in one of the organized clean up efforts or partnerships, feel free to help in your own way. If each St. Albertan picked up even one piece of trash every day, we would have 60,000 fewer pieces of trash. Every little bit will help to spruce up St. Albert.
