Community steps up to keep riverbank clean-up afloat

Saskatoon is answering the call as the Meewasin Valley Authority faces challenging times.
 
Already reeling from having its funding chopped in the March provincial budget, the urban park also had to absorb losing the main sponsor for its annual spring clean-up program.
 
Every spring about 30,000 volunteers pitch in to collect trash along he riverbank during the months of April and May.
 
The MVA’s Doug Porteous said they already had fewer staff to coordinate the program so losing their sponsorship was a big blow.
 
“Right now we’re doing it without any finances of any kind. It’s public services announcements, people bringing their own bags.” said Porteous, the river authority’s manager of corporate development.
 
Porteous said the corporate sector has also stepped up.
 
Over the weekend 70 employees from Graham Construction picked up litter on both sides of the river. On Monday BHP Billiton staff cleaned up Friendship Park and River Landing during the noon hour. Loraas Disposal has also donated recycling and waste dumpsters in the valley.
 
Porteous said every little bit helps, and he’s been pleased to see others groups and businesses wanting to come on board.
 
“Well that’s the nature of the people of Saskatchewan and Saskatoon is representative of that. We’re always there, the volunteerism is always there.”
 
Porteous said despite working with fewer resources they’re optimistic the program won’t skip a beat this year.