Time for another Keep The County Clean Challenge

Apr 3

By Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

Northumberland County

Northumberland County's own version of spring cleaning returns in the lead-up to Earth Day on April 22 with the 15th annual Keep The County Clean Challenge.

While the challenge is open to everyone, one of its highlights is the annual Mayors' Keep The County Clean Challenge.

This challenge invites community members in every municipality to enjoy a friendly competition in collecting litter from their neighbourhoods' public spaces. Last year, more than 3,000 residents collected 11,427 kg. of litter in the highest turn-out to date.

Warden Brian Ostrander, the mayor of Brighton, looks forward to this event each year.

“Earth Day is an opportunity to reflect on our shared responsibility to respect our natural environment and protect invaluable natural resources for future generations,” Ostrander said in the announcement.

“I encourage community members to register for the challenge to help tidy up their local neighbourhood, show their pride for their municipality and contribute to a healthier Northumberland.”

This event runs from April 21 to 26, and municipalities with the highest proportional representation of volunteers (as well as most litter collected per volunteer) will receive trophies at a county council meeting.

April 22 brings the EarlyON Earth Day Family Story Time, when families with young children are invited to enjoy a variety of engaging stories and activities. Each child who attends an EarlyON and Family Centre location will receive a packet of seeds (while supplies last) to take home and grow, aligning with the theme of nurturing nature.

April 25 is 20-Minute Makeover day, when individuals are encouraged to step outside for a short time to enhance their local environment by tidying up a nearby park, school or trail.

While no registration is required for the 20-Minute Makeover, you can register for the other events and get more program details at Northumberland.ca/EarlyON

Dan Jones

Dan Jones is a veteran radio and web journalist with 18 years in the news business. He has reported on Indigenous issues in Northern and Western Canada. This former News Director has covered provincial legislative politics in the Yukon and Saskatchewan.

https://www.Northumberland897.ca