Spruce up West End before the snow falls

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This article was published 10/9/2013 (2360 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The West End BIZ is giving community organizations, sports teams, and school groups the chance to earn some money in exchange for cleaning up several parts of the West End in a project called Team Effort.

This year, the West End BIZ can accommodate two fundraising groups.

In teams of preferably more than six individuals, participants will carry out their cleanup on one of four Saturdays provided: Sept. 28, Oct. 5, Oct. 12, and Oct. 19.

Participants can also choose an area to clean up. There are three choices: Notre Dame Avenue (between Balmoral Street and Midland Street), Sargent Avenue and Ellice Avenue (between Balmoral Street and Arlington Street), and Portage Avenue (between Young Street and Strathcona Street). Each route is three kilometres long.

"We’re the largest geographical BIZ in the city, so it does help us out quite a bit having them clean up before the snow falls," maintenance operations co-ordinator Ryan Malec said.

The West End BIZ provides teams with gloves and bags, but teams are welcome to bring their own cleaning apparatus. The cleanup consists mainly of picking up litter from the ground and putting it in a garbage bag.

This is the third year the West End BIZ will have hosted Team Effort since first hearing about a similar event from the International Downtown Association.

"We decided to try it out here and it’s been working out real good," Malec said.

"After they complete their tasks, we give them an honorarium of $250 (each) for their accomplishment," Malec explained.

Teams must provide a main contact and phone number to the West End BIZ. This person will be responsible for picking up and dropping off supplies at the office (581 Portage Ave.).

Teams are also responsible for their respective members.

For more information about Team Effort, visit westendbiz.ca or call 204-954-7900.