River man

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/01/2025 (477 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The river bank is a place to relax, meditate, foster feelings of calm and even inspire poetry. So when it becomes a dumping ground for furniture, appliances and all other kinds of unsightly litter, the experience is a starkly different one.

In 1999, Robert Belanger, then a Selkirk-based conservation officer, kept coming across piles of garbage while patrolling along the Red River. He knew something had to be done, so he brought together various municipalities and partners to tackle the issue.

Last year, the Red River Operation Clean Up project celebrated its 25th anniversary and the removal of over a million pounds of garbage from the river’s banks that would have otherwise ended up in the waterway or moved downstream to pollute Lake Winnipeg. The initiative provides gallon drums to help collect the waste and about 1,000 garbage bags are used every year to help dispose of the smaller items.

Red River Operation Clean Up has become well-known as a grassroots initiative that illustrates how philanthropy and volunteerism can make a difference in a community.

The project runs from May to October each year. Though many would like to see it run year-round as messes continue to crop up during every season — including debris around some ice-fishing sites — separate winter funding would be required, and accessing additional funds presents a challenge.

Belanger retired from his 30-year career with the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service in 2017 and currently serves as a councillor in the RM of St. Clements but remains very much involved in the project he started all those years ago.

Born and raised in Selkirk, Belanger remembers riding his bike, fishing and hanging out along the Red River as a child.

“It was a wonderful place to grow up,” Belanger said, about the area he still lives in today. “As I became a conservation officer, I patrolled the river and saw this garbage. It was an overwhelming disgrace to the river.”

With tourists visiting from all over the world and residents eager to experience the river and surrounding areas, Belanger began advocating for support. Active partners include Service Canada (Lockport Bridge), Manitoba Hydro, the City of Selkirk and the RMs of St. Clements, St. Andrews and East St. Paul; along with monetary donations from the Red River Basin Commission (North Chapter) and Gerdau Ameristeel out of Selkirk.

“When I commit to something, I’m in it 100 per cent,” said Belanger. “I don’t give in and I don’t give up. We just keep plugging away. I call it the little project that could. I’m always trying to find help; we are always working on a shoestring. It started with me using my own vehicle at first.”

Belanger would like to see the Government of Manitoba commit to providing $5,000 in annual funding.

“The RMs are doing their part. They are the ones that really make this work: they all put in $3,000 each,” Belanger explained, adding that the funds allow him to hire student workers.

He would also like to see the City of Winnipeg — which was initially a partner, but hasn’t been involved for over 23 years — step up.

“At times I can be very outspoken — when it comes to doing this project, I get so frustrated,” Belanger said. “People can see the good work that’s done, but there’s no listening from City of Winnipeg councillors, just a cold shoulder.”

Belanger said the garbage being dumped outside the city is not only being left by local residents but by Winnipeggers who have been adding to it for years.

Belanger would like to see more citizens write to their local government representatives asking why they aren’t supporting Red River Operation Clean Up.

“Without it you’d start getting more complaints again about people dropping half-ton loads of garbage. Before it started, the local municipalities were getting phone calls, there was an outcry from people saying this is terrible,” he said. “My wish is that people would stand up for this project.”

Complaints about garbage sightings used to come in often from surrounding municipalities. Since Operation Red River Clean Up started, they’ve gone down to zero, according to Belanger, who welcomes volunteers to join the team.

Belanger has given presentations in schools and other communities to demonstrate the difference people can make.

“When people see the slide show, their jaws are on the ground. Couches, chairs, fridges, stoves, garbage,” he said, adding some of the weirdest items found include a dead Komodo dragon-type lizard, a cow’s head and stolen vehicles.

“A small group of people ruin it for everybody else. They load up fridges and stoves and they dump it, because they’re too lazy or don’t want to bring it to the landfill.”

The challenges expand beyond esthetics. There are environmental risks and safety hazards when things like construction site materials and propane tanks are added to the mix. Red River Operation Clean Up has also removed fishing lines, which pose a danger for ducks and geese.

The project has signage up at various locations informing the public of the purpose of the green barrels and reminding visitors not to litter.

Belanger hopes to expand the project’s outreach in schools.

“We want to bring a curriculum into the schools,” Belanger said of what would be a mix of in-class learning and field trips to learn about the environment, pollution and waste.

fpcity@winnipegfreepress.com