Mayor Gerald Aalbers speaks to Grade 7 students at Father Gorman Community School on Monday morning during Pitch-In Week kick-off activities. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
It’s Pitch-In Week in Lloydminster, and to help kick things off, students at Father Forman Community School teamed up with the City to start the annual community cleanup.
The annual event includes the community-favourite Pitch-In Week, presented by Mary Brown’s, from May 1-7. Throughout the week, residents are encouraged to sweep sidewalks, pick up litter, and complete other cleaning measures within their properties and nearby community spaces.
“Today is the kick-off to Pitch-In Week and we’re starting here at Father Gorman school,” said Mayor Gerald Aalbers on a windy Monday morning.
“We’re engaging other community groups and organizations to take some time this week and get involved and pitch in.
“These are the young people that are going to guide us going forward and we really need their input to help support things at home as well as in the community.”
Aalbers also wanted to remind the public the City’s annual hazardous waste round-up is taking place this Saturday at the Lloyd Exhibition.
“People often wonder where they can put those items they can’t put in the garbage or in the recycle bin, the Exhibition is the place to bring them, on Saturday at 10 a.m.”
During this event, residents are encouraged to properly dispose of aerosols cans, antifreeze, batteries (wet and dry), cellphones, cleaning products/ solvents, drugs and pills, fertilizers, laptops and notebooks, medications, metal, monitors and printers, paint, pesticides and weed killers, propane tanks, sharps (in a puncture-proof container), toxic products, TVs, used oils and filters, and various household electronics.
Aalbers also encourages Lloyd residents to take some time and clean up greenspaces throughout the city.
“If you see garbage, please take the time and pick it up, and do it as a family,” he said. “It’s great to go out as a family and teach your children, or let your children teach you, about cleaning up.”
GFL Environmental was also onsite helping ensure kids knew how to properly sort garbage and recycling with its popular Hoops Challenge.
“The Hoops Challenge is to create awareness of what goes in which bin, or into a bag, and honestly, the kids always nail it,” said Brett Chambers, Operations Manager, GLF Lloydminster.
“We do it with people closer to my age that aren’t as familiar with the recycling program or organic program, and fortunately, the kids are crushing life on that one.”
It may be pitch-in week, but Chambers is encouraging all Lloyd residents to keep going after May 7.
