Taking Pride in Downtown Thunder Bay

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Layla helps in the laneway off Victoria Avenue East in the VCC Clean up effort.
Layla helps in the laneway off Victoria Avenue East in the VCC Clean up effort.

Vale Community Council Spring Clean Up Efforts Continue

THUNDER BAY – Spring cleaning Thunder Bay might be held up by the snowfall this week, but that has not deterred a determined group of youth from the Yale Community Council. On Saturday the group invested some time and elbow grease into the Downtown Fort William area.

Cleaning up along May Street, the backlane by the old Royal Edward Arms, near Shelter House, and along the Kam River Park, the group gathered up several bins of garbage.

Just some of the almost sixty bottles of mouthwash and hairspray gathered up by the volunteers from the VCC
Just some of the almost sixty bottles of mouthwash and hairspray gathered up by the volunteers from the VCC

The group counted up almost sixty empty mouthwash and hairspray bottles along their clean-up.

Layla helps in the laneway off Victoria Avenue East in the VCC Clean up effort.
Layla helps in the laneway off Victoria Avenue East in the VCC Clean up effort.

In a neighbourhood that often gets a bad rap over issues with addiction, while some of the youth were on guard or even worried, what was interesting is a group of people gathered behind the Royal Edward Arms started helping, and thanked the youth.

Another group down at Kam River Park thanked the group, and offered a basketball to one of the youngest volunteers. They too thanked the volunteers for their efforts.

Perhaps the message might be that getting more people engaging and being in the downtown will help make the downtown a better place for everyone.

Shelter House Clean up is holding a clean-up this week.

Many people and businesses across Thunder Bay will be getting out to clean up their yards and businesses in the coming weeks.

Superior Points
Superior Points can help by safely cleaning up discarded needles. Telephone Contact Numbers
Rick at 625-8831, Lori at 625-7996, or Stuart at 625-8830

One note the VCC Youth found a number of needles. Rather than pick them up, the locations were noted and Superior Points will be called to safely pick them up. Call Superior Points at 625-8831 or 625-7996 to pick up any needles you might find.

On an editorial note: It might be a good idea for the team at Shelter House to organize a protocol to walk around the building during the day. There were several fresh needles and a lot of litter around the Shelter that were obviously fresh. Keeping the Shelter House cleaner outside might create a determination to keep the area cleaner by the clients of the shelter?

Building Pride in Thunder Bay

Building community pride in Thunder Bay means lots of people across the city are going to have to step up and make a difference.

The youth from the Vale Community Council who are a part of the Regional Multicultural Youth Council encourage other youth, and challenge Thunder Bay City Councillors to join with them in helping make Thunder Bay a better place one trash bag at a time.

VCC Clean Up March 19 2016 by netnewsledger

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James Murray
NetNewsledger.com or NNL offers news, information, opinions and positive ideas for Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northwestern Ontario and the world. NNL covers a large region of Ontario, but are also widely read around the country and the world. To reach us by email: newsroom@netnewsledger.com Reach the Newsroom: (807) 355-1862