Students from three northeast Calgary schools teamed with emergency services personnel and community leaders to pitch in and clean up their neighbourhood.
The students, from Lester B. Pearson High School, Clarence Sansom School and St. Rose of Lima Junior High, gathered with police, EMS, other city workers and politicians collecting garbage around the Village Square Leisure Centre and shopping mall.
Const. Paban Dhaliwal, resource officer at Lester B. Pearson, said the event builds community spirit.
“The students are getting a sense of ownership, they are a part of this community,” said Dhaliwal, “they live in this community and they can be proud of this area.”
One student, Tyler Dufour, enjoyed working with community members.
“It’s good that everyone is out here. It gets done faster if everyone helps out,” said Dufour.
MLA Manmeet Bhullar, Ward 5 Ald. Ray Jones, and Minister of Children and Youth Services Yvonne Fritz attended the cleanup.
“Even when I attended this school, it was very important for students to be engaged. This is showing them grassroots engagement. It shows them small steps can lead to meaningful change,” said Bhullar.
