The North Hastings Children’s Services (NHCS) goal to remove 100 bags of garbage from the region has been achieved, and they say they’re just getting started.
Nicole Beaudin, Early Years Manager at the group, says over 20 families came out to help, allowing them to reach their goal by June 1st. Thanks to their partners and volunteers, she says Riverside Park has looked much cleaner.
But for Beaudin, work still needs to be done, as it is just as easy for garbage to be thrown away as it is to clean it up. All departments within the NCHS are committed to the drive to make the region trash-free and are doing that through the education of children. They hope by teaching children not to litter at a young age, they will be keeping the area clean for the next seven generations.
Trevor Pearce, Indigenous Cultural Coordinator with NHCS, says plans are in the works to do a fall cleanup, as well as a watershed cleanup. Although the stay-at-home order has made things challenging, they still plan to hold more cleanups as things reopen. Pearce wants to make it a regular occurrence during their Indigenous cultural days on Saturdays. More details for events will come once COVID restrictions are lifted.