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Volume VIII Issue XVI
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aprIl 9, 2013
CONVERGEDCITIZEN
WECEC sponsors Clean Sweep
Military recognized Hailey Trealout Citizen Staff Reporter
Photo by Adam El-Baba Chelsea Masse picks up litter during the Rose City Spring Clean Sweep Month in downtown Windsor April 5. The last time this program was launched was five years before the clean city committee was lost due city budget cut backs. Bottom left: Coun. Fulvio Valentinis speaks to the volunteers in front of the Squirrel Cage in downtown Windsor. Adam El-Baba Citizen Staff Reporter Students and Windsorites gathered at Maiden Lane in downtown Windsor April 5 to kick off the Rose City Spring Clean Sweep Month. Held outside of the Squirrel Cage, the annual cleanup kicked off at 10 a.m. The event was coordinated by the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association and sponsored by the WindsorEssex County Environmental Committee. Debi Croucher, acting executive director of DWBIA, said she was really excited about the turnout and support shown from the sponsors. “What’s really exciting is the
number of students we have from the college and university,” said Croucher. “They came on board as soon as it was posted and the student services from both the college and university really helped us spread the word.” The Rose City Spring Clean Sweep campaign happens every April and its purpose is to gather the community to remove litter from sidewalks, vacant lots, school grounds, ditches and alleys. Volunteers were given a coffee and doughnut breakfast courtesy of Tim Hortons at the Squirrel Cage prior to the event and a pizza lunch was available after the cleanup. The City of Windsor provided gloves, bags, collection
services and field maps. Tim Tidridge, waste collection, contract and operations administrator, advised anyone who found sharp objects or needles to mark them on their maps so the city could remove them safely later. Ward 4 Coun. Alan Halberstadt, co-chair of WECEC, said this is the first year WECEC is involved with the campaign. The last time a program like this was launched was five years ago before the clean city committee was lost due to city budget cutbacks. “The message is keep your city clean … and more importantly raise awareness,” said Halberstadt. “Take pride in your city and one of the
sources of pride is that it be clean.” Ward 7 Coun. Percy Hatfield and Coun. Fulvio Valentinis of Ward 3 also attended the cleanup. WECEC environment and sustainability coordinator Averil Parent said they wanted to highlight the downtown area as their starting point for the cleanup. “We encourage other neighbourhoods throughout Windsor to organize their own cleanup events as well,” said Parent. “We definitely want to educate people to not throw litter out of their car or hands in the first place. All the youth now know how to recycle so why do we still have litter in our downtown streets.”
The Southern Ontario Military Muster held a fundraiser March 23 to keep their doors open in order to educate the public about its local history. The SOMM is a non-profit organization that works to preserve, educate and honour those who served in battle. Linda Iler, the secretary for SOMM, helped organize the event and said it’s a great learning experience for younger generations. “The event today is honouring our military,” said Iler. “Once a year we have a big open house fundraiser to raise enough money so we can stay open for the balance of the year. This year when I found out that this was the 60th anniversary of the Korean armistice, I came up with the idea to honour our military this year.” The North Wall Riders Association, Provincial Marines, Canadian Historical Aircraft Association and the Windsor Essex Military Family Support Group all attended with unique displays. Geoff Bottoms, the president and founder of SOMM, said the event gives people hands on opportunities with history through guns, photos and uniforms. “It’s a great event. History in itself is something we should pay more attention to and unfortunately we don’t around here,” said Bottoms. “Today’s kids play all these war games, they get killed, they hit reset and start all over again. In real life, you get killed, you’re dead and there is no reset button. I’m not for war but its very important to talk about them and bring the history out.” The fundraiser raised $1,400 for the SOMM.