Record turnout for North Central cleanup

REGINA – Hundreds of volunteers turned out for the North Central’s annual Clean-Up Day, in hopes of changing the community for the better.

Equipped with pickup trucks and gloves, residents hauled a mix of garbage, discarded furniture and yard waste off the streets and out of alleys to give the neighbourhood a facelift.

Reg Holtz lives in North Central and was a part of the efforts this weekend.

He said it’s just a small way to improve the City of Regina as a whole.

“I chose to come out here because it’s just something I believe in, because I think if we keep it clean it will stay cleaner,” he explained.  “On my fence if I have one piece of graffiti I’ll have two or three pieces right away, but if I paint it right away I’m good for six months of a year.”

It’s that sense of community pride that brought 130 volunteers out for the cause, which is the best turnout in the event’s five year history.

Last year about 50 metric tonnes of garbage and four metric tonnes of recyclable metals were collected.

Ward 6 Councilor Wade Murray said all the garbage is hiding North Central’s more positive qualities.

“We have a lot to be proud of here.  We have character homes, big trees, beautiful parks and green spaces.  There’s so much to offer in this community,” he said while volunteering at the event.  “People really need to start see it for what it is: a community that’s close to downtown, minutes from shopping, the arts centre. We have a lot going for us here.”

Many residents added the efforts are not just about appearances but also boosting moral and ultimately improving people’s quality of life.